News

The Tory-led council believe they can deliver free parking to Harrow in a way that is not open to abuse, and is affordable.

Ms Hall was excited to announce the plans on 3 February.  Free parking  (20 minutes only and on-street not in car parks) is coming to Harrow  on in a move to deliver a boost to the local economy. Conservative leader of the council Susan Hall made the announcement on Monday following months of debate with Labour and Independent Labour on how best to deliver free parking. Opposition parties have been pushing a plan to bring 20 minutes free parking to Harrow since October last year, but a trial scheme in Rayners Lane showed that it could cost up to £1million annually – the equivalent of a one per cent rise in council tax, which is the reason Tories shot the plans down. Ms Hall said: “When we did this, we wanted to do it right. We had to come up with a system that people could use, but could not be abused.” The system, which will be rubber stamped by the Tory cabinet on Thursday next week and is hoped to be rolled out within the next four months, will give each motorist in Harrow 20 minutes free parking once a day. After typing in their vehicle’s registration number, they will then receive a ticket and not be able to get another one until the following day. Harrow Council estimate that replacing machines for the new system across district centres will cost £436,000 while the loss in revenue from parking income will be £296,000. Ms Hall said: “We have a responsibility to taxpayers to deliver services in a way that is sensible and affordable. Previous plans have just not been thought through.” Businesses across Harrow would have been disappointed that the plan did not come in time for Christmas, however Ms Hall has been consulting with officers for months on this plan which she claims is foolproof. Free parking is coming to Harrow in a move to deliver a boost to the local economy. Conservative leader of the council Susan Hall made the announcement on Monday following months of debate with Labour and Independent Labour on how best to deliver free parking. Opposition parties have been pushing a plan to bring 20 minutes free parking to Harrow since October last year, but a trial scheme in Rayners Lane showed that it could cost up to £1million annually – the equivalent of a one per cent rise in council tax, which is the reason Tories shot the plans down. Ms Hall said: “When we did this, we wanted to do it right. We had to come up with a system that people could use, but could not be abused.” The system, which will be rubber stamped by the Tory cabinet on Thursday next week and is hoped to be rolled out within the next four months, will give each motorist in Harrow 20 minutes free parking once a day. After typing in their vehicle’s registration number, they will then receive a ticket and not be able to get another one until the following day.

Harrow Council estimate that replacing machines for the new system across district centres will cost £436,000 while the loss in revenue from parking income will be £296,169. Ms Hall said: “We have a responsibility to taxpayers to deliver services in a way that is sensible and affordable. Previous plans have just not been thought through.” Businesses across Harrow would have been disappointed that the plan did not come in time for Christmas, however Ms Hall has been consulting with officers for months on this plan which she claims is foolproof. As for traders who were left waiting, Tory cabinet member for finance Councillor Tony Ferrari said: “Now they will have free parking for many Christmases.” As for traders who were left waiting, Tory cabinet member for finance Councillor Tony Ferrari said: “Now they will have free parking for many Christmases.”

Our consultation website at heathrow.com/localcommunity will launch on Monday 3^rd February. We are sending our consultation document to over 140,000 homes and businesses in the Heathrow area and beyond. Copies will also be provided to all local authority buildings and civic centres.

The traditional Band Concerts will take place in Pinner Memorial Park on  Sundays on       27th July and 3rd, 10th and 17th August 2014.  For details see Events page.

At an open meeting in West House to discuss the possible development of Dickson Fold  on 27 January the current residents expressed their dismay at the threat of the loss of their homes, as did the Pinner Association.
In this context you may be free of any further fears of the demolition of West House as this building is the subject of a 125 years lease from the Council to the Heath Robinson Museum Trust.

Double click:

Let’s follow Enfield’s splendid example and support Harrow’s plan to ban spitting in public places.  Express your view? See:  http://www.harrow.gov.uk/spitting
Re the Enfield ban see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-25291274 and http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-25802137   

The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded The West House and Heath Robinson Museum Trust £1,130,100 to build a Heath Robinson Museum in Pinner Memorial Park! Wonderful news! Big thanks to everyone who has worked so hard over the past 15 years to get to this point.
We still need to raise £200,000 to be able to build the museum. If you’d like to help, you can donate online at https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/heathrobinsonmuseum. Thank you!

The proposed development at 69 West End Lane has been refused for the following reason:
The proposed development, by reason its excessive bulk, height and scale
and its close proximity to the public highway, would appear as an overly dominant, incongruous and conspicuous addition to the streetscene to the detriment of the character of the area, and would therefore fail to accord with policies 7.4.B and 7.6.B of The London Plan 2011, policy CS1.B of The Harrow Core Strategy 2012, saved policy D4 of the Harrow Unitary Development Plan 2004, policy DM1 of the emerging Harrow Development Management Policies Plan 2013, and the adopted Supplementary Planning Document: Residential Design Guide 2010.

No doubt the applicants will now appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

A registered nurse, together witha retired doctor, is setting up a group to
improve people’s medical wellbeing via meditation.  They are non-profit making
and intend to gain charitable status.
They meet weekly on Fridays from 7.30 to 9pm in the St John’s Ambulance Hall, The Car Park, Pinner Road,
N Harrow, HA2 7AT.
For further inforation please contact Toni at tonihew@AOL.COM
or TEXT/PHONE 07990742974.