Local Authority

ARTWORK by schoolchildren across the borough has been put together to form a new town centre mosaic.

The work was unveiled in Uxbridge High Street outside the Pavilions Shopping Centre on Thursday, comprising of 14 pieces of art created by school pupils.

A CONCERNED resident has accused Hillingdon Council of wasting tax payers' money by throwing away 'perfectly good' paving slabs used to refurbish Uxbridge High Street.

Nick Johnson, of Uxbridge, said he was told by workmen that the slabs were destined to be dumped on a landfill site.

He said: "I have been watching the work with interest and saw the workmen excavating the slabs. They said the council told them there was nowhere to store them.

"It seems like a colossal waste of tax payers' money and completely crazy to chuck away slabs that could be used elsewhere."

The ongoing work is part of improvements to the town centre, including the removal of trees and circular benches, with a long-term plan to provide shops with outdoor seating areas.

Mary Worrall, head of highways and green spaces: "Hillingdon Council worked with Transport for London to bring improvements to Uxbridge Town Centre.

"As part of this, the layout of the pedestrian area was redesigned to offer more space, and to make the town centre more attractive place to live, work and shop.

"As part of these works, damaged paving is being replaced and several trees have been replaced with new species more suitable for this area.

"The old paving slabs are being recycled and will be used as granular fill in other areas."

What do you think? Email editorialuxbridge@trinitysouth.co.uk with your views or post a comment below.

A DATE has been set for the Streets Ahead Week of Action programme, to come Uxbridge.

Previously residents were being asked for ideas, which have now helped shape the schedule of events....

AN APPLICATION to mark out 25 parking spaces for lorries has been refused.

The request was for the northern part of the Cape Boards site on Iver Lane, Cowley.

It was turned down by the Hillingdon Council planning committee who decided that to allow it would represent a material change of use for the site.

NEIGHBOURS have expressed their displeasure at overbearing plans to build flats in a back garden in an already heavily populated area.

New plans have been submitted for an area of land backing onto Peachey Lane, Cowley, which also backs onto Bosanquet Close.

There are in fact two separate planning applications, one for a block of two bedroom flats, and another for a block of four bedroom flats.

The newly refurbished Hillingdon Sports and Leisure Complex opens this Monday.

Complete with 50 metre indoor swimming pool, 100 station gym, and sports hall, it will also feature an outdoor lido later this year.

The Gazette got an exclusive first look at the Gatting Way, Uxbridge, site, and the pictures can be seen below...

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RESIDENTS were given the opportunity to put public services under the spotlight in a special Q&A session with the Council's top leadership team.

Local people, picked at random from the electoral roll and invited to take up a seat, grilled the Hillingdon council leader Ray Puddifoot and other cabinet members on a range of issues, and were encouraged to make their views known on the council's efficiency and performance in areas such as education and housing.

BASE Bar is to have its drinks license temporarily suspended and entry restricted to over 23s.

Groups of over five men over have also been restricted from entering.

A meeting was held last Monday to discuss the future of the bar in Uxbridge High Street after police requested a review, claiming trouble emanating from the nightclub was a drain on their resources.

The bar is to have its license suspended for 14 days in two weeks time, unless they decide to appeal the decision.

THE recession has bitten hard at the Civic Centre with a pay freeze ordered and possible job cuts on the way- to meet a £19 million savings target.

Hillingdon Council, who is one of the borough's largest employers, is aiming to make £50 million worth of savings within the next four years.

Staff were told of the news in a circulated e-mail sent by Hugh Dunnachie, chief executive, who earns £185,000 a year.

APPRENTICE winner Lee McQueen dropped into Hillingdon to give a stirring speech to young council apprentices.

The 2008 winner of Alan Sugar's BBC television show, popped in today (Monday)to Hillingdon Civic Centre, in Uxbridge, as part of the local authority's initiative to get young people straight into careers.

Lee McQueen, who grew up in South Ruislip, has close links to Hillingdon Training who train the young apprentices, and his visit marked the beginning of National Apprentice Week.