Category: News

Temporary Reprieve for Pinner Police Station

The new MOPAC – MPS Access Strategy has been published today (1st November 2017).  In this it is stated that the local community will be re-consulted on whether Pinner Police Station front counter will remain open, manned, as now, by volunteers from our community.

Of course, if the front counter does remain open the building cannot be shut and sold off – so watch this space for more news of the re-consultation and make your views known when that opportunity arises.

The Pinner Association submitted a detailed response to the MOPAC – MPS recent consultation on their new “Public Access Strategy”.  Our response was acknowledged by our Nick Hurd, MP, Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service, in his letter of 11th October 2017 to Sophie Linden, London’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime:

 

The new MOPAC – MPS Access Strategy has been published today (1st November 2017) – https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/public_access_strategy_nov_2017.pdf . 

The parts of the document that particularly relate to policing in Pinner and Pinner Police Station are:

“This strategy sets out the current state of public access and where we want to get to. Our public access offer to Londoners brings together the existing telephone contact methods, which accounts for the majority of police contact, with new online ways of reporting; at least two Dedicated Ward Officers in every community, based closer to their wards and equipped to work and engage with the public on the go and at notified times and places; and one 24/7 front counter in every borough.”

“During the consultation process it became clear that local operational police decisions had been taken to operate Ruislip and Pinner police stations as volunteer-led front counters. As such, these did not appear in our original list of front counters, we were proposing to close. Our proposal will be to close these front counters due to the reasons previously provided. Although we did receive some representations about them during the consultation process, we will re-consult locally in those communities prior to making decisions about them.”

“Where front counters are closing, we expect to close them on 14 December, in line with the commitment we made in the draft strategy to implement changes quickly in order to provide certainty and maximise savings. For those where we are committing to further local engagement – Pinner and Ruislip – front counters will stay open.” 

Further information will be posted as soon as this is available.

Bluebell Planting in Pinner Village Gardens

Bluebell Planting – Saturday 21st October

Compton Copse in Pinner Village Gardens

10am – 12pm and 2pm – 4pm

This event, organised by The Friends of Pinner Village Gardens, is for young people (16 and under) and/or parents who would like to plant one, two or a few more of the first 500 bluebell bulbs.

If you have gardening gloves please bring them with you, if you haven’t small disposable gloves will be available.

Further information:     https://www.friendsofpvg.org.uk/

Rejuvenation of Pinner Station Garden Borders

Pinner Station Gardens – October 2017

The garden borders on the southbound platform of Pinner Station are admired by many commuters, and indeed in 1966 received an award – see:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinner_tube_station.

For many years The Pinner Association have maintained these well loved features as an amenity for all who use our Metropolitan Line station.  However, mature and exuberant planting has been causing some problems and the borders need refreshing.

At the back of the borders some plants have grown excessively tall (and broad) and have had to be shortened, as they were blocking the TfL CCTV camera visibility of the platform.  Shrubs that have grown too high in front of the “PINNER” signs have had to be pruned or moved.

At the front of the borders, many plants, including some of the lavenders, had spilled far out over the edging of the borders onto the platform and are having to be cut back as they could have been a potential trip hazard.

The lavenders are so much loved [with commuters surreptitiously stroking them as they await their train] that more lavenders and scented shrubs [e.g. Rosemary and Choisya] will be dotted in as the borders are refreshed.

And in the middle of the borders, some plants have just reached an age when they need replacing.

Over this summer some tidying has been done and some plants replaced including replacing some old and tired roses with new roses [“Louisa Stone” and “Spirit in the Sky”], Nepetas [“Summer Magic”], and Heucheras [Blowed If I Know the variety- aka “BIIK”].

Elsewhere in the borders herbaceous planting has been renovated with Phlomis russeliana, Salvia forsskaolii, Geranium “BIIK”, and Verbena bonariensis.

This is not an “all change” operation. The borders hold many excellent plants that simply require sympathetic pruning.

There will be occasional further reports from our Pinner Association volunteer gardener as the borders develop.

Pinner Library Gadget Surgery – Free IT Advice

There is to be a free “Pinner Library Gadget Surgery” run by Harrow Council’s IT suppliers, Sopra Steria,  Pinner Library, Marsh Road, on Monday 9th October between 11.30am and 4pm.

Five volunteers from Sopra Steria will host a drop-in to help any member of the public with their IT queries and issues – from everyday basic IT tasks such as using the internet, sending emails and uploading photos to more complex issues that you might have with your technology.

Friends of Pinner Village Gardens – New Members Event

Friends of Pinner Village Gardens Membership Info Day

On Saturday 30th September and Sunday 1st October from 10am – 4pm the Friends of Pinner Village Gardens held an event in their park to allow people in Pinner to find out about what they have achieved and their plans for further improvements to the park. 

The event was formally opened by the Mayor of Harrow, Councillor Margaret Davine, accompanied Mayoress Marilyn Devine:

Pinner Village Gardens was looking its best with the lovely autumn colours on Saturday, and is an amenity that everyone in Pinner should support for the enjoyment of all:

Information about how to become a Friend of Pinner of Village Gardens may be found on their website:

https://friendsofpvg.org.uk/

Public Consultation – Police Stations Closing

Public Consulation 26 September 18:30 –> 20:00 at Harrow Civic centre.

For those of you planning to attend the consultation about Pinner Police Station closing.  It might be worthwhile registering your intention to attend. Just in case there is a large turnout.

You can do that by clicking in the link below – it’s free!

Public meeting harrow police buildings information

 

 

Harrow Recycling Centre: now for Harrow residents only!

All Change on 13 November!

The rules on waste are changing in Harrow – from 13 November only residents of Harrow borough will be allowed to use the Council tip, located at Forward Drive, Kenton.

Harrow Council is making the change to reduce queues and cut costs for Harrow taxpayers. Almost 30% of visitors to the tip are thought to come from outside the borough – after some other councils in West London shut their recycling centres to non-residents.

Cllr Graham Henson, Harrow Council portfolio holder for environment, said:

“With one stroke, we’re slashing the queues at the waste recycling centre and saving huge amounts of money. I’m fed up with people from all over the place bringing their waste to Harrow. My message to people from other boroughs is – we don’t want your rubbish!”

From 13 November, Harrow residents will need to bring their driving licence with them to the recycling centre as proof of address. If they don’t have a driving licence, then proof of residence such as council tax bill, utility bill, bank statement and photo ID will do.