A4 Colnbrook Bypass documents

Gazette article July 29th 2009

E-mail to LBH Chief Executive of 29th July 2009

From: Hillingdon-Watch [mailto:petersilverman@hillingdon-watch.org.uk]
Sent: 29 July 2009 17:06
To: Hugh Dunnachie - Chief Executive, LB Hillingdon
Cc: John McDonnell (MP Hayes& Harlington)
Subject: A4 Colnbrook ByPass


Mr Dunnachie,

I am writing in regard to the dirty condition of the Hillingdon section A4 Colnbrook Bypass as reported in today’s the Ruislip & Northwood Gazette. 
I was concerned by the quotation from a Council Officer which implies that it is a “fly tipping” issue.
However it can be seen from the photos at:
www.hillingdon-watch.org.uk/html/main_road_cleaning.html#A4  and http://www.hillingdon-watch.org.uk/html/photos_a4.html
that it was due to the build up of litter over a considerable period and not due to recent fly tipping.
This is supported by the quotations in the article from the motorist who has pointed to the long term nature of the problem.
I would be grateful if you could intervene in this matter and make sure that steps are taken to reverse the apparent neglect this road by our street cleaning department.

I am copying this to John McDonnell in whose constituency I believe this section of the A4 lies.

Peter Silverman
www.hillingdon-watch.org.uk   
20 Kingsend, Ruislip, HA4 7DA
01895 625770



Letter in reply of 30th July 2009
 

My reply of 31st July

From: Hillingdon-Watch [mailto:petersilverman@hillingdon-watch.org.uk]
Sent: 31 July 2009 14:17
To: Colin Russell
Cc: Hugh Dunnachie - Chief Executive, LB Hillingdon; Sandra Jenkins (LBH Cabinet Member Environment)); Dan Coombs (Gazette On Line); John McDonnell (MP Hayes& Harlington); 'Dallon, Sherrie'
Subject: A4 Colnbrook Bypass / Speedbird Way

Colin,

Thank you for your letter of 30th July in response to my e-mail to Hugh Dunnachie of 29th July. I am pleased that you accept that the problem is primarily one of general litter not fly tipping and will now start cleaning the area on a regular basis

I took the attached photos at about 12.45 pm today.  As you can see the litter picking that took place on 24th July barely scratched the surface.  Also, nothing whatsoever seems to have been done in Speedbird Way.  As you know this was specifically included in Mrs Dallon’s EPA Section 91 notice.

I believe she is on holiday and may not have seen how little progress has been made.  I am copying this to her with the suggestion she gives you another week before going to the Magistrates’ Court.

As a full clean up will take a considerable effort I suggest you use outside contractors rather than divert your own staff from their normal duties. 

Going back to your letter could you tell me when the alterations to the schedules took place following which cleaning of the area ceased.

You may find it convenient to refer to  www.hillingdon-watch.org.uk/html/main_road_cleaning.html and go down the page to the heading “A4 Colnbrook Bypass” to access previous correspondence including Mrs Dallon’s S91 notice.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Peter Silverman
www.hillingdon-watch.org.uk
0195 625770

Click here to see attached photos
 

From: Peter Silverman [mailto:p@petersilverman.com]
Sent: 07 August 2009 15:59
To: Hugh Dunnachie - Chief Executive, LB Hillingdon
Cc: John McDonnell (MP Hayes& Harlington)
Subject: A4 Colnbrook Bypass and Speedbird Way


I refer to the article in the Gazette of 29th July concerning the dirty state of the Hillingdon Section of the A4 Colnbrook bypass and the correspondence in their letters page of 5th August.

A motorist had e-mailed  the Council on 22nd July giving it 5 days notice to clear up the litter that had accumulated over the years on this road or face an action under Section 91 of the Environmental Protection Act. In response to the article Ms Kathy Sparks, LBH deputy director of environment said in a letter to the Gazette that “the litter was cleared the following day”.  However, this was most certainly not the case.  Litter picking did take place on the 23rd but it only removed a fraction of what was there.  Speedbird Way which was also subject to the notice had been totally ignored. 

After pointing this out I believe some further litter picking was carried out. However on inspecting the area on 6th August it was clear that most of the litter (and I mean massive quantities) was still in situ. Please refer to the photographs on the “Main Road Cleaning” page of the  www.hillingdon-watch.org.uk web site.

Can you please intervene in this matter in order to ensure (a) the area is given a massive one-off clean (b) that an ongoing cleaning program is set up to keep it up to standard (c) to identify if any other highways are being similarly neglected  and (d) why your highways inspectors did not pick up the problem which, it would appear, has been ongoing for some years.

The letter from Ms Sparks also says that in the coming months the council will be launching a litter campaign to prosecute and fine those caught throwing rubbish out of their cars and dropping litter in the streets.  Can you say what additional resources will be allocated to this program and how many prosecutions and fines the Council will be targeting per annum?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Peter Silverman
www.hillingdon-watch.org.uk

 

From: Hillingdon-Watch [mailto:petersilverman@hillingdon-watch.org.uk]
Sent: 20 August 2009 18:58
To: Hugh Dunnachie - Chief Executive, LB Hillingdon
Subject: A4 Colnbrook Bypass & Speedbird Way

Dear Mr Dunnachie,

Thank you for your letter of 18th August in response to my e-mail of 7th August.  I am sorry to put you to more trouble but there are still some issues that need to be addressed further.

It is not clear from your first paragraph whether or not you accept that Ms Sparks statement that “the litter was cleared away the next day” was misleading.

Thank you for pointing out that Speedbird Way is a private road.  (I have been told it is owned by British Airways). You say that a recent inspection showed it to be clean.  When did this take place?  I inspected and photographed this road, on 22nd, 24th,and 31st of July and on the 6th and 20th August (i.e. today).  On each occasion there were massive amounts of litter in evidence behind the crash barriers.   What will the Council now do to get the owners to remove the offending litter and maintain the area in an acceptably clean state?  Please refer to the attached photographs taken today.  Could you copy me in on any related correspondence with the owners and with any legal orders/notices issued against them.

Coming back to the A4, you say it would appear the cleaning schedules were adjusted in March.  However, Mrs Dallon who commutes every day along the road says that the road has been in a poor state for some years.

I saw today that more of the long term litter has been removed but there is still a lot left. I think a further blitz is required before it is left to the fortnightly cleaning crew  to maintain it  to an acceptable standard.

I note your comments on the Litter Campaign but would prefer to deal with this as a separate topic.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Peter Silverman
www.hillingdon-watch.org.uk
20 Kingsend, Ruislip, HA4 7DA, UK
01895 625770

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From: Raj Alagh [mailto:RAlagh@Hillingdon.Gov.UK]
Sent: 28 August 2009 15:14
To: Hillingdon-Watch
Subject: Re: A4 Colnbrook Bypass & Speedbird Way

Dear Mr Silverman
 
Thank you for your e-mail, addressed to the Council's Chief Executive, which he has asked me to reply to.
 
I am on leave next week, returning to the office on 7th September, and I promise to send you a substantive response on my return.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Raj Alagh
 
Borough Solicitor.
 
Rajesh Alagh
Borough Solicitor
London Borough of Hillingdon (3E/04)
(Tel) 01895 250617
(Fax) 01895 277373)
(E-Mail) ralagh@hillingdon.gov.uk