People

ONE of three men who stood trial for the murder of West Drayton's Anthony Dickson on Christmas Eve 2010 has been convicted of manslaughter.

PEOPLE will be able to enjoy a packed summer of entertainment and cultural events this year, thanks to the efforts of the Yiewsley and West Drayton Town Centre Action Group.
The group, made up of volunteers who live in both towns, local councillors and members of other community organisations, is putting together a programme of summer attractions.

The centrepiece will be a Jubilee Carnival in the Park at Yiewsley Recreation Ground on Saturday, June 9.
Group chairman John Davies explained how the idea came about:
"I raised it at a meeting of the group in June last year and we started kicking the idea about among us.

"I was very conscious we were one of the few parts of the borough of Hillingdon that didn't put on any kind of summer event. One thing led to another and the plans suddenly started to take shape.
"I have to say that without the amazing efforts of the volunteers, none of this would be going to happen - they have really put a huge amount of effort into pushing things forward."
The carnival, from 2.30pm to 8pm, will feature fairground rides, street dancing, face painting, a children's fancy dress competition, shire horse and cart rides, a reptile stand and a fire eater, along with a host of community stalls and exhibits.

Mr Davies added: "We'd like as many local community groups as possible to get involved and bring along their stands to take part."
Apart from the Jubilee Carnival - so-called because it coincides with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations - the festival will consist of a number of events.
They range from a flower festival, Theatre in the Park and an arts and crafts fair, a celebration of music and dance and an event centred on the Grand Union Canal in Yiewsley, which will offer a chance to try out canoeing skills along with trips aboard the West London Floating Classroom, complete with a jazz band.

Other events are being planned, and the festival is shaping up to be bigger than even the now defunct Middlesex Show, for years the borough's keynote summer event.
Mr Davies estimates the total cost of the festival will be between £10,000 and £12,000, and the action group is keen to find sponsors.

"John Guest, the plumbing specialists, have been very helpful and Tesco have also offered to help us," said Mr Davies. "But it would be great if more local businesses were to offer financial help.
"Although this is the first time we've organised a summer festival, there's clearly a lot of support out there. When we helped to open up Drayton Hall as part of the Open House scheme, 500 people turned up, so hopefully everyone will rally round and get involved."
The organisers want hear from people willing to be a steward during the festival. Call Mr Davies on 07775 728 688 if you can help.

The Gazette will publish details of the events as they become available. Have your say at www.uxbridgegazette.co.uk/yiewsley.

This week the Uxbridge Gazette has thrown its weight behind the campaign to stop High Speed Two (HS2).

The hugely expensive project will benefit no one in our communities. Destroying glorious countryside, demolishing properties, blighting neighbourhoods and causing untold upset for the many households on its route will do nothing for the environment or the local economy.

There is no reliable proof it will help the national economy either.

Thirteen councils, including Hillingdon, have lined up to challenge the evidence for the £32billion proposals, and now the Gazette does too.

Make sure you have your say before the current consultation finishes on July 29.

A 'LOST' tortoise named after a motorbike racer has been found after going on the run for 18 hours.

Rossi the tortoise, a tribute to Moto GP rider Valentino Rossi, disappeared on Thursday evening at 7pm.

Brett Archer, his owner, of Colham Green Road, Yiewsley, said: "One of the kids left the back gate open. If you give him a chance he'll make a break for it."

However, Rossi's break for freedom did not see him travel far.

"He turned up in a next door neighbours garden, we are well chuffed he's back."

A PUBLIC consultation has been launched on moving a Post Office 150 yards from its current address.

Under proposals, West Drayton Post Office will relocate from 17 Station Road, to 43 Station Road.

The branch is currently run by a temporary sub-postmaster, and the Post Office has been seeking a permanent solution.

A PLEDGE from Hillingdon Council to focus on town centres around the borough, including Yiewsley and West Drayton, has been welcomed.

The town centres of West Drayton and Yiewsley are set to be the first to benefit from investment from TfL.

A sum of £1.8 million has been provided to improve central parts of the towns. A lit-up arc is planned for the Colham Bridge in Yiewsley, while a colourful redevelopment of the Network Rail owned bridge in Station Road, West Drayton is also planned.

The area is also set to benefit from Crossrail, with housing developments already springing up, and a new Tesco superstore has recently opened.

LEASEHOLDERS who face months of disruption while renovations are carried out to the roofs of their homes still do not know how much they will be asked to pay.

But already they are being advised to clear their lofts of all their belongings, to prepare for the works, and the council is refusing to provide storage for residents forced to move out their belongings.

Early estimates are that the repairs will cost leaseholders in the region of £4,000 to £6,000 each, and there may be interest repayments if they are unable to pay the amount within three years.

TWO roads were closed in separate incidents earlier today (Tuesday).

An air ambulance was sent to Stockley Road after a man was badly injured in a fall, believed to be from a bridge used by golfers at the Stockley Pines course to cross Stockley Road.

The victim, in his 40s, was taken to St Mary's Hospital in Paddington with chest and leg injuries after falling 'from height' at about 12.30pm.

About 30 minutes later, police closed Yew Avenue in Yiewsley after a domestic incident.

A SERIAL thief has been sent back to prison after stealing meat from a petrol station.

Gerald O'Sullivan, 28, of Frankswood Avenue, West Drayton, was jailed for 20 weeks after admitting the theft at Tesco Express in Cowley High Road on April 1.

A charge of assault against him was dismissed.

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to stop Yiewsley Swimming Pool being turned into a health centre have been dealt a blow after Hillingdon Council dismissed claims an 80-year-old covenant could save it.

The council has spent three months consulting lawyers over the covenant, have now stated it will not stop their plans for the site in Otterfield Road, Yiewsley. Despite this their decision is being challenged and there are calls for a review.

The council is developing plans to build a health centre to lease back to Hillingdon PCT who do not have the capital to do so themselves.

After the pool closed last July, residents pinned their hopes on a 1934 covenant which bound the old Yiewsley and West Drayton Urban District Council to keep the land for community use.

But the council has now dismissed the covenant, claiming it is invalid as the land has changed hands, from the old Urban and District Council, to Hillingdon Council, when the council's were amalgamated in 1965.