Ref: FOI/3071

Dear Ms Milner

I am writing in response to your request for information below and further to my colleagues acknowledgement of the 18th July 2011.

As I understand it you are requesting to know:

ALL reports produced by Halcrow to date so that residents can be fully informed of the present position relating to these reports

We are of the view that the information you are requesting would be considered to be ‘environmental information’ and as such the information requested is exempt from the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) pursuant to S39 of the FOIA however your request has been considered in relation to the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR)

I can confirm that we hold information that could be seen as marching the description of your request. However it is important to note that there is no final complete report and that any ‘reports’ produced by Halcrow to date are in draft form only. As such these reports are exempt from the requirements of the EIR pursuant to R 12(4)(d) of the EIR which provides an exemption where the request relates to  material which is still in the course of completion, to unfinished documents or to incomplete data.

We have considered the public interest in this matter and we note the following (please note that when considering the public interest test it is important to bare in mind the principle that just because the public are interested in the information it does not follow that the public interest is in favour of disclosure.)

Public Interest Factors in favour of disclosure

?          The EIR create a presumption towards disclosure

?          Disclosure can promote transparency of decision making

Public interest Factors in favour of withholding

?          The information is incomplete and does not represent the final or complete picture

?          disclosure of  copies of draft reports each containing incomplete data and information would be likely to be misleading and cause confusion

?          This confusion could not be mitigated

?          Disclosure of incomplete information would not fulfill one of the stated public interest arguments in favour of disclosure because, as the material is in the course of completion, it does not represent information on which the Public Authority will base any decision on and would not therefore promote transparency in decision making

?          it is intended that a full report will be published once it is completed

On balance we are of the view that the public interest is in favour of maintaining the exemption.

If you have any queries, or if you wish to discuss this matter please do not hesitate to contact me on the details below.

If you wish to request an internal review of our response you should write, within 2 months, to:

Office Managing Partner, Legal Services, Civic Centre, High St, Uxbridge, UB8 1UW (or via email to foi@hillingdon.gov.ukmarkedfor the attention of the Office Managing Partner).

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply to the Information Commissioner for a decision.

The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioners Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire,

SK9 5AF

Richard Ingle

Richard Ingle

Data Protection &

Freedom of Information Officer

Legal Services (3E 04)

London Borough of Hillingdon

Civic Centre

High Street

Uxbridge

UB8 1UW

01895 55(6923)

From: barbaramilner@tesco.net [mailto:barbaramilner@tesco.net]
Sent: 10 July 2011 16:58
To: GEgan2@Hillingdon.Gov.UK
Cc: Richard Ingle
Subject: Ruislip Lido Improvement Programme

Dear Mr Egan,

We wrote to you on 28th January 2011 asking you to deal with questions we had raised in a letter to Mr Dalton (also copied to you) as appeals against non disclosure of information under the Freedom of Information Act. We also asked you to reconsider your refusal to disclose Flood Risk Assessment reports in response to another resident�s appeal as it is clearly in the public interest that these should be disclosed.

Since that date we have only received responses from Mr Ingle, presumably on your behalf, and have recently written to him to express our dissatisfaction with his responses and considered it necessary to make a formal complaint to the Information Commissioner about the way in which our requests for information and appeals have been delayed and avoided.

We understand that the Information Commissioner has now ruled that you were wrong to refuse to disclose the report previously requested by another resident and have now seen the Halcrow report dated April 2010 which has at long last been disclosed.

We are however, aware that a number of further reports have been produced by Halcrow since that date including three reports in August 2010 and further reports this year. Will you now therefore please disclose ALL reports produced by Halcrow to date so that residents can be fully informed of the present position relating to these reports?

In view of the length of the documents requested we would prefer to receive them digitally by email to this address.

Yours sincerely,

Barbara Milner

1 Lakeside Close HA47UE

On behalf of Ruislip Residents

Frank Bonner

Margaret Norman

Carolyn Towner

Jessica Lewis

Martin White

Catherine Renwick

Brenda Townsend

Judy McNeill

MEETING – WEDNESDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2011

7.00pm, CIVIC CENTRE, UXBRIDGE – COMMITTEE RM 2

AGENDA

1. Apologies for Absence

2. Notes of Previous Meeting.

3. Chairman’s and Other Reports.

4. Question & Answer session with Mr Cockbaine of TfL

5. Progress on Current Issues / Ongoing Issues.

Traffic or highway related issues:

- West End Rd Congestion caused by RAF Northolt Traffic light system.

- Traffic Light phasing on the slip road of the Osie Garvin roundabout.Parkway/Uxbridge Rd

- Traffic light Phasing at theStockleyPark/ Prologis Park Entrance.

Future Housing or Industrial Site Developments

- Hayes Gas Works site Housing Development

Planning Related Issues

- WestLondonWaste Plan.

- North / South Express bus route or Sustainable Corridor.

5. Progress on Congestion Mitigation scheme Programme.

Update on the 35 sites of greatest congestion in the Borough..

6. Review of Hillingdon Forward Plan.

-         Items of interest to the Motorist Forum. – Members with Internet access should consult the Hillingdon Council website at:-

http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=9236

Items not discussed at the July meeting;

- Winter Services Operational Plan

6. New Issues Raised by Members.

Issues raised at the Northwood Hills Pride of Place event:

- Several comments about the delay caused by theGreen Lanetraffic lights

- Harefield pedestrian Crossing too close to roadabout.

- Catlins Lane road surface.

-Newyears Green Lanepot holes

- Willow Tree Lane / Yeading Lane Traffic light phasing

8. Any Other Business.

9. Date of Future Meetings.

The next meeting will take place onWednesday 9 November 2011in Committee 3A

Dick Walker – Chairman

Tel No 020 8866 6900

Email – richard.walker31@btopenworld.com

NOTES of MEETING WEDNESDAY 13 july 2011

Present:

Forum Members                                                                 Hillingdon Council

Dick Walker               Jean Smith                                        Bob Castelijn

Bryan Watts              Herbert Levenger                             Cllr Brian Crowe

Martin Plummer        June Wood

John Rosser

The Chairman welcomed the new members to the Forum

1. Apologies for Absence.

David Knowles, Jean Smith, Pam & Mike Herbert, Lyn Joel, Peter Ryder, Walter Holmes, Wyne Bridges

 2. Notes of the May Meeting

The notes were agreed a true record.

 3. Chairman’s and Other Reports

- An article appeared in the Uxbridge Gazette publicising the Forum and its work. I was contacted by several people interested in the Forum.

- The Forum now has a mention on the Hillingdon Watch website:

www.hillingdon-watch.org.uk/hillingdon-mototrists-forum

If members have any items they would like to be added on the site please let me know.

- The Chairman and Martin attended the Northwood Hills Community event. Several issues were raised.

- I now attend the HARA (Hillingdon Association of Residents Associations) meetings. This means the Forum is in contact with all the Hillingdon Residents Associations by attending one meeting.

-  I received a reply form Mr Knowles on the Eastcote Park Estate issues raised by Mr Ryder, the reply was passed to Mr Ryder. The Estate committee wishes to thank Mr Knowles for the response.

- Martin wrote to Boris Johnson, inviting him to attend a future Forum meeting. Unfortunately he was not available, if there are any issues we wish to raise directly with the Mayor we can contact him at the Email address mayor@london.gov.uk

- The attendance of Mr Cockbaine – TfL representative at the September meeting is confirmed.

Northwood Hills Residents Association

The 50mph speed limit along ducksHills Rdis now in operation. The Installation of the Pegasus crossing is awaiting TfL.

4. Progress on Current Issues

Traffic or High related issues:

-West Endlane Congestion caused by the RAF Northolt traffic light system.

Hillingdon is awaiting a response from TfL

- Traffic Light phasing on the slip road of the Osie Garin roundabout Parkway/ Uxbridge Rd

Hillingdon is awaiting TfL response.

- Position of theLees Rd/Uxbridge Rdbus stop.

The bus stop has been moved slightly further east – away from the junction withLees Rd.It is hope that this will overcome the difficulty of traffic turning left intoLees Rd.

- Eastcote Stn Access Scheme.

The council have confirmed that the scheme is now completed

- Taffic Light Phasing at the Stockly /PrologisParkEntrance.

It was considered that Lavender Rise should get green if A408 has no traffic and be more responsive to demand.

Response from Bob Castilijn following the meeting.-

LBH officers have been trying to resolve Lavender Rise problems forStockleyParkpeak time evening exit.

You may recall that the signals are linked from Lavender Rise down to and including the M4 roundabout.  LBH officers have had requests to ensure that once green all signals should remain so all the way onto the M4!  TheA408 Stockley Roadoperates a two-way system with side roads and signalled roundabouts of considerable size. The computer that runs them therefore will take demand form the north, south, side roads and the roundabouts into consideration. It follows therefore that side roads may not appear to respond how drivers think they should whilst the computer probably knows best.

Situation to be considered at the next meeting.

- Uxbridge Road / Gledwood Drive Traffic signals

The observation was made that at theUx Road/Gledwood Drivethe pedestrian and traffic lights go together.  Westbound drivers can not stop on time as 25m between the lights is not enough to stop for the second set of signals.

Attendees considered that the second set of signals should be timed so that drivers who can pass the first set of signals (through amber) can pass the second set as well (time lapse issue could resolve safety concern).

LBH will liaise with TfL regarding the timing of these signals.

-Pield Heath RdBus Stops.

It is clear that with the stops directly opposite one another there is a significant risk of congestion particularly at peak times. All that is needed to resolve the problem is to move the stop on the side of the road leading to the mini roundabout 50 yds further down the road. However the Chairman was disappointed to be told by Mr Castelijn that the position of the stops would not be changed.

- A40/Long Lane/Freezeland WaySignalled Junction

Observations were that the filter lane configuration on the eastbound approach is causing problems within the A40 / Long Lane junction area.  There are effectively two right turn lanes with no more than 4 vehicles able to make a right turn in one phase.  The two right turning lanes go down to one lane effectively within the junction area as the junction exit has only one lane.  Drivers sometimes also use the left turn lane to turn right during peak periods.  The lane skipping is a particular cause of concern.  Potential may exist to convert Straight Ahead / Right Turn lane into a Straight Ahead lane only.

Response from Mr Castelijn subsequent the meeting.

LBH Officers have visited the site several times, including the morning during AM peak and mid morning on14 July 2011, and have not observed specific problems.  We will continue to monitor the accident situation and behaviour on site.

- Long Lane /A4020 Uxbridge RoadTraffic Light Phasing

Observations were made that coming from Uxbridge the eastbound junction exit narrows.  The Left Turning traffic has to wait unnecessarily.  A Left Turn filter is needed so that traffic towards Long Lane has no unnecessary waiting time.  One comment was made that the phasing was bad anyway.  A further observation was made that the service road is used in two directions whilst it should be in one direction only – which conflicts with the traders wish as they do not want to lose trade.  Attendees wished us to explore potential for introduction of a left turn filter light fromUxbridge Roadtowards Long Lane.

Response received for Mr Castelijn subsequent to the meeting

There are currently three eastbound approach lanes matched by three exit lanes used by vehicles travelling eastbound onUxbridge Roadat its junction with Long Lane.  The eastbound exit lanes do reduce to two lanes further east which expects drivers to merge at a point which does not affect the junction exit capacity. Changing one of the approach lanes into a ‘left only’ lane is likely to significantly increase delay to eastbound traffic and reduce capacity at this junction.

In response to a request from the Council, TfL have been investigating the sequence of the traffic signals onUxbridge Road(westbound) at its junction with Long Lane. We have been informed that TfL are currently configuring a new control chip (PROM) which is expected to be ready to install within the next 6 weeks and should improve matters generally.

LBH will ask TfL to consider including this junction on one of their future timing review programmes.

- Stillwell roundabout lane markings

The lane marking design is under consideration.

- Road Planning for the 2012 Olympics

The M4 & M4 Spur bus lanes will be restricted to Olympic traffic for the duration of the games.

-SpringfieldRd /Uxbridge RdJunction.

 Members who live in the vicinity are preparing a response to the comments made by the Council at the May meeting.

Future Housing or Industrial Site Developments

MasterBrewer & HayesParkSites – At the time of the meeting no Planning Applications have been received by the Council

Planning Related Issues

- WestLondonWaste Plan. A detailed Assessment will be published in October.

- North / South Express bus route or Sustainable Corridor. . Alternatives are still under consideration.

5. Progress on Congestion Mitigation Programme

No developments to report.

6. Review of Hillingdon Forward Plan

There was no discussion of this item at the meeting.

7. New Issues Raised by Members.

- Traffic Light phasing at the Lavender Rise /StockleyParkjunction. This issue is included with the comments about thePrologisParkentrance.

- It was noted that during the period that the main Eastcote traffic lights were out of action for a short period the traffic flow was much smoother,in addition wthere was much less delay to pedestrians crossing the junction.

8. Any Other Business.

None

9 . Date of Next Meeting.

The next meeting will take place on14 September 2011commencing at7.00pmin Committee Rm 2

Richard Walker                                                                                August 2011

“In August 2008 Michael Doherty, who lives in Hillingdon, discovered a long series of messages exchanged by his 13-year-old daughter with someone who appeared as if he might be grooming her. The messages were sexually explicit. At one point the person proposed staging a kidnap and whisking her away. Doherty went to the police. He presented them with an 86-page dossier. When he wasn’t satisfied with the action being taken, he phoned Hillingdon police station five times to try to speak to a senior officer to complain, and to find out why, in his view, the investigation seemed to have stalled. Then a series of remarkable things happened.

Two plainclothes officers arrived at Doherty’s house at seven in the morning, when he was feeding his baby, to arrest him. Among other charges, the police claimed that he had been harassing the commander’s secretary. She had produced a witness statement in which, she said, he had phoned 10 times in two days, that he was “raging”, “abusive”, “rude and aggressive”. Doherty offered to get dressed and then present himself at the station – but the officers, after threatening to smash down the door, handcuffed him and dragged him out of the house in his dressing gown.

At the same time the police dropped the grooming investigation. They hadn’t looked at his daughter’s computer. A note by a detective inspector at the Hillingdon station later justified this decision by maintaining that “there is no evidence of a crime capable of proof”. Doherty believes that this conclusion could not be supported without examining the computer; the police maintain that they have established that the correspondent was only 15, had met Doherty’s daughter, and was who he said he was.

Doherty had proof that the calls he had made were not rude, abusive, raging or aggressive: he had recorded them. I have listened to the recordings: he remains patient and polite – remarkably controlled for someone faced with alleged police indifference to what was happening to his daughter. The police failed to pass these recordings to the Crown Prosecution Service, so off to court he went. There, though she had signed a legal witness statement, the secretary admitted that her recollection of the calls was hazy, and he was acquitted; but had he not recorded them, and meticulously documented everything else that happened, he might have been convicted.

Having failed to interest the crown prosecutors, Michael Doherty is about to launch a private prosecution for alleged perjury. It’s the last hope he has of holding anyone to account.

Justice is impossible if we cannot trust police forces to tell the truth. The remedy I’m about to propose should not be difficult for any government to adopt. It offers, I think, the only chance we have of addressing what seems to be an endemic problem: anyone who works for the police and is found to have made false statements – to the prosecution, the defence, the courts, parliament, public inquiries or the media – should be sacked. No excuses, no mitigation, no delays. It sounds harsh; it’s not nearly as harsh as a system in which the police malign both the living and the dead, and use the law against innocent people in order to protect themselves”.

The first hearing of Mr Doherty’s private criminal prosecution was before Circuit Judge (RECORDER) Hon John Bevin on 5th July at Luton Crown court .  (Mr Doherty no longer is resident in LB Hillingdon). The defendant was Ms Tracey Jane Murphy, an employee of the Metropolitan Police (Hillingdon Division) was indicted for the criminal offence of Perjury contrary to Sec 1(1) of the Perjury Act 1911. She was accompanied by Staff Sergeant Mandy Gould.

The Judge set a Plea hearing for the 3rd of October 2011, additionally requesting that the defence provide skeletal arguments by the 1st of September with an indication of their clients intended plea. i.e. Guilty or Not guilty.

http://modgov.hillingdon.gov.uk/mgePetitionListDisplay.aspx?bcr=1

MEETING – WEDNESDAY 13 July 2011

7.00pm, CIVIC CENTRE, UXBRIGE – COMMITTEE RM 4

AGENDA

1. Apologies for Absence

2. Notes of Previous Meeting.

3. Chairman’s and Other Reports.

4. Progress on Current Issues / Ongoing Issues.

Traffic or highway related issues:

- West End Rd Congestion caused by RAF Northolt Traffic light system.

- Traffic Light phasing on the slip road of the Osie Garvin roundabout. Parkway/Uxbridge Rd

- Position of the Lees Rd / Uxbridge Rd bus Stop.

- Eastcote Stn Access Scheme. Position of Bus stop near station entrance.

- Traffic light Phasing at the Stockley Park / Prologis Park Entrance.

- Pield Heath Rd bus stops.

- Stillwell roundabout lane markings.

- Road Planning for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Future Housing or Industrial Site Developments

- Development of the Master Brewer site.

- Development of the Hienz – Hayes Park site.

- Hayes Gas Works site Housing Development

Planning Related Issues

- West London Waste Plan.

- North / South Express bus route or Sustainable Corridor.

5. Progress on Congestion Mitigation scheme Programme.

Update on the 35 sites of greatest congestion in the Borough..

6. Review of Hillingdon Forward Plan.

 Items of interest to the Motorist Forum. – Members with Internet access should consult the Hillingdon Council website at:-

http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=9236

Items not discussed at the May meeting;

- Local Implementation plan – 2nd Consultation.

- Winter Services Operational Plan

- West London Waste Plan.

7. New Issues Raised by Members.

Lavender Rise / Stockley Rd junction traffic lights

Traffic flow during the period that Eastcote Traffic lights were not working.

8. Any Other Business.

9. Date of Future Meetings.

The next meeting will take place on Wednesday 14 September 2011. Committee room to be confirmed.

Dick Walker – Chairman

Tel No 020 8866 6900

Email – richard.walker31@btopenworld.com

NOTES of MEETING WEDNESDAY 11 May 2011

Present:

Forum Members                                                      Hillingdon Council

Dick Walker                     Peter Ryder

Pam Hibbart                      Bryan Watts

Mike Herbert                     Water Holmes

Lyn Joel                            Herbert Levenger

1. Apologies for Absence.

David Knowles, Bob Castelijn, Jean Smith

2. Notes of the March Meeting

The notes were agreed a true record.

3. Chairman’s and Other Reports

The Chairman circulated to members details of the FairfuelUK Internet petition. It is hoped that members were able to sign.

I registered with Hillingdon Chat website. It is hoped that items on site will generate new members.

I completed the HS2 Consultation questionnaire. It can be access via the link:

http://highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk/have-your-say . The consultation ends on 23 July.

A response to the Forums Comments on the Draft Local Implementation Plan 2 has been received.

- It has been confirmed to Bryan Watts by the Council that the yellow lines on the corner of Westacott & Park Lane do not comply with current regulations.

The road and pavement works for the new Uxbridge Rd pedestrian crossing near the Park Rd junction has been completed.

Peter Ryder – Eastcote Park Estate Committee

The committee are concerned about several issues in the vicinity of the estate. The details were submitted to Mr Knowles.

4. Progress on Current Issues

The following update has been received from Bob Castelijn on issues raised at the last meeting:

1. Ruislip Road: Hillingdon Officers have considered your wish to widen the road and “push traffic away from Target Roundabout”.  I  have been advised that Members are highly unlikely to support developing such proposals.
2. Kings College Rd, Ruislip: The traffic calming scheme has been implemented.
3. Springfield Road / Uxbridge Road : Planning permission exists for developing Hayes House into a hotel.  Various applications have been received for change of use within the building, none of which will significantly affect the junction.
4. Southall Gasworks : Measures proposed as part of the planning development (posted on Ealing’s website during the consultation period ) include the following:

• 1) M4/J3, capacity upgrade
• 2)  A312 The Parkway / North Hyde Road ( Bull Bridge ) Roundabout, capacity upgrade
• 3) A312 The Parkway / Bilton Way / New Access Road , introduction of four-arm signalised interchange
• ·   4) Pump Lane / Bilton Way , roundabout conversion into a signalised junction
• 5) Pump Lane (east of A312 Parkway / Southall Gasworks access road / new A312 access road (mirroring Bilton Way), introduction of new signalled junction
• · 6) Pump Lane, introduction of a bus lane (with camera controlled enforcement proposed at current width restriction)

1. £3.5m has been paid to LB Ealing for Supplementary Mitigating Measures.  The S106 legal agreement requires that a Transport Review Group (consisting of officials to be selected by LB Ealing) is set up to convene and discuss the need for traffic management measures, travel plan measures, bus services and bus priority measures related to the impacts of the Development on the highway network.  Opportunities will exist for the Transport Review Group to consider access concerns at the appropriate time.

Members who live in the vicinity of Springfield Rd did not agree with the comment that “none of the likely developments in the area would adversely affect the junction”.

- Ducks Hill Rd Pegasus Crossing. When will the installation work be completed.

- West London Waste Plan. Members were concerned about the increase in the number of heavy lorries travelling on Hillingdon’s roads if this Plan was implemented in its current form. What is the future for the Victoria Rd recycling centre if the plan goes ahead.

.As no Council Officers were present at the meeting no further updates were available for the remaining items on the Agenda.

5. Review of Hillingdon Forward Plan

The following items were considered of interest to the Forum:

- Page 3 Item 549 Local Implementation Plan. A second consultation exercise is mentioned.

- Page 9 Item 614. Winter Services Operational Plan. The Forum would like to see a copy of the report.

- Page 11 Item 564. West London Waste Plan. As mentioned above the Forum has concerns about the effect, such as congestion and damage, of the additional heavy goods vehicles on the roads of Hillingdon.

7. New Issues Raised by Members.

It was reported that the Northwood Traffic Lights were still causing unnecessary delays. The Residents Association are in favour of the proposal to remove the lights.

8. Any Other Business.

It was suggested that the Forum should request a table at the forthcoming Hillingdon Pride of Place  event which takes place on 18 July.

9 . Date of Next Meeting.

The next meeting will take place on 13 July 2011 in Committee Rm 4.

Richard Walker                                                                   June 2011