September 2008 Archives

A FLOWER arranging demonstration is being held in Northwood.

Ruislip Northwood Flower Arrangement Society will present the demonstration by area demonstrator, Gillian Poulain, entitled Golden Days, on October 7.

It will be held at Northwood College in Maxwell Road, Northwood, at 7.30pm and there will also be a jewellery stall.
For more information call 01923 829 621.

A ELDERLY man was killed after being knocked down by a car while crossing the road.

The man, who is believed to be in his late eighties, was hit in Eastbury Road, at the junction with Green Lane, Northwood, at 9am on Monday.

He was taken to Watford General Hospital with head injuries and later died from those injuries.

The grey Mercedes MPV which hit him stopped at the scene and an ambulance crew and a fast response car were sent by the London Ambulance Service.

The Collision Investigation Unit (CIU) at Alperton Traffic Garage are investigating.

Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has any information is asked to contact Sergeant Geoff Harper at the CIU on 020 8998 5319.

Alternatively if you have information, and you'd prefer not to speak to police, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

THE sentencing of disgraced former Conservative councillor and parliamentary hopeful Ian Oakley has been adjourned.

Mr Oakley, of Ryeland Close, West Drayton, pleaded guilty to several charges of harrassing his rivals in the Liberal Democrat party and was due at St Albans Magistrates' Court this yesterday (Tuesday) for sentence.

The independent councillor for Northwood ward was told his case was being adjourned until October 13 for pyschiatric and pre-sentencing reports.

He left the court very swiftly afterwards but was still pursued by the waiting paparazzi.

A ELDERLY man was rushed to hospital this morning (Monday, September 15) after being knocked down by a car in Northwood.

The man, who is believed to be in his seventies, was taken to Watford General Hospital with head injuries after he was in collision the car while crossing Eastbury Road at the junction with Green Lane at 9am.

A ambulance crew and a fast response car were sent to the scene

COUNCILLOR Ian Oakley appears to finally be edging towards the exit door after he resigned as chairman of a council committee.

The Northwood councillor resigned from the Conservative group in Hillingdon after he was arrested in July for his alleged involvement in a hate campaign against rival politicians in Watford.

Although the 31-year-old pleaded guilty to 75 offences of harassment, criminal damage and intimidation at St Albans Magistrates' Court last month, he still remains a independent councillor in Northwood.

However, he has at last resigned as chairman of the Residents & Environment Services Policy Committee.

He has also been replaced as a member of the Registration and Appeals Committee, the Social Services & Health and Housing Complaints Review Panel and the Disablement Association of Hillingdon (DASH).

He is due to appear at St Albans Magistrates for sentencing on Tuesday, September 16.

NORTHWOOD'S main high street is getting a £600,000 make-over.

The original £200,000 set aside to refurbish Green Lane has been boosted to £587,500.

Northwood councillor, Scott Seaman-Digby, said: "This investment in Northwood will make a real difference to the lives of our residents and will act as a catalyst for other activity in the area."

Hillingdon Council has put forward £413,000 for the Town Centre Improvement project and Transport for London (TfL) have given another £174,500.

The project will include the upgrading of street furniture, the introduction of new mature tress, new signs and community notice boards and the relocation of the telephone kiosks next to the war memorial.

There will also be improvements to zebra crossings and the installation of a mini roundabout at the junction with Maxwell Road and a traffic island at the junction with Hallowell Road to reduce speeding.

Mary Worrall, head of highways and green spaces at Hillingdon Council, said: "Preliminary works have now started and a substantial proportion of the Green Lane improvement scheme is expected to be completed by December. In addition, some further elements of the scheme will take place after the Christmas period.

"The council appreciates the considerable input received from local residents which has helped shape the improvement scheme and will be providing further information, notifying people about the main works programme before it begins."

Further work is planned to cover Station Road and the improvement scheme may move to High Street, Northwood, with the support of TfL.

A NOTORIOUS pub remembered for its bad track record and its clamping problems could soon be turned into flats.

Two blocks of flats will be built on the former site of The Reindeer pub in Maxwell Road, Northwood, if planning permission is approved.

Lawrence Bailey, shop manager at www.completegolfer.co.uk in Maxwell Road, said; "Anything is better than The Reindeer because it was pretty rough. I think everyone was pretty happy when it closed.

"We had quite a lot of problems outside as well with our customers' cars getting clamped."

Anil Patel, owner of Jackdaw, said: "There was always fights at The Reindeer and we had a lot of problems with the clampers. Our customers were getting clamped and they were not coming back.
"We don't mind if it's flats."

However, Northwood Residents' Association planning consultant, Alan Prue, has been through the application with a fine tooth comb and is not happy with the plans.

He said: "Our initial view was that almost anything is better than The Reindeer, but this application falls into the almost category.

"It's a two block monstrosity that exceeds the height of buildings in Northwood by at least two storeys generally.

"I put our objections into Hillingdon Council yesterday (Thursday)."

The application was submitted to the council in June and the decision is due by November 14.

As well as 14 flats within the two blocks, the application is also asking for commercial space on the ground floor and associated parking

Mr Prue said: "If the commercial space is shops we have no objection to that, provided they don't put up lots more building societies. We have enough of those already.

"We would not be too keen on a Tesco or a Sainsbury's. We are an aging population and it would be nice to walk to the shops to get what you want, rather than having to drive to a supermarket."

To comment on the application go to www.hillingdon.gov.uk, write to Planning Department, Civic Centre, Uxbridge, UB8 1UW, or email planning@hillingdon.gov.uk. The closing date for comments is September 19.

A COFFEE shop run by church volunteers is offering affordable tea and coffee in a relaxing environment perfect for families.

The Oasis Lounge in Northwood Methodist Church, Oaklands Gate, Northwood, has been open for many years and is also available for private hire.

It is open Wednesdays to Saturdays from 10 to midday and is run by volunteers.

As well as tea and coffee there are home made cakes on offer and on Saturdays there is often a wide selection of newspapers to read.

The shop caters for all age groups and has high chairs and toys.

A TOP career doctor is coming to Northwood to help kick-start the careers of disillusioned people.

Steve Preston of Beverley Road, Ruislip Manor, founded the independent career and personal development consultancy, SMP Solutions, and has helped hundreds of people turn their lives around.

He is holding a career SOS event on September 16 at The Riverside Club in Ducks Hill Road, Northwood, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

This event will then be followed up with full-day seminars dubbed Move Your Career 'One Step Beyond'.

For more information call Steve on 01895 474 887 or email info@smp-solutions.co.uk.

NATIONWIDE Building Society in Northwood Hills is closing.

A spokesperson from the building society has confirmed the branch in Joel Street will close on November 28.

The branch is no longer viable for them due to low usage and its close proximity to other branches.
It is the last remaining building society in the high street and there are no banks so this will come as a huge loss to residents and shopkeepers in the area.

The customers of the branch have already been told about the closure.

The next closest Nationwide branch is in Maxwell Road, Northwood.