BRIEF HISTORY AND CURRENT ACTIVITIES

The Ickenham and Swakeleys Residents’ Association was formed in March 1924, mainly for the purpose of protecting the interests of the people of Ickenham. Its first “battle” was in 1927, when the Council wanted to move the Pump and fill in the Pond so that the road could be widened to accommodate the traffic rushing between Uxbridge and Ruislip.

Our financial records show that no subs were collected between 1939 and 1st Jan. 1946, when members were obviously engaged in other more serious activities.

First records after the War indicate, the Association was renamed Ickenham Residents’ Association in 1946.

In the 1970s the Association opposed the building of the National Exhibition Center on Green Belt land by the A40, a battle that was won when the NEC was built in the Midlands.

In the 1980s, although the Association vigorously opposed the re-routing of the A40, we lost this battle, with the result that the new road was built on Green Belt land, and the new station was built at Hillingdon. We successfully fought to have the A40 stretch between the Denham Roundabout and past Hillingdon Station approaching Northolt Airport resurfaced with noise-reducing asphalt.

We were closely involved with the applications to renovate Swakeleys House and have it converted into offices, and continue to monitor any developments there.

1996/1997 was the anxious time, when we were threatened with a possible WARNER BROS. Theme Park on Green Belt land at Hillingdon House Farm. However, we feel that the successful thwarting of this scheme in the Summer of 1997 was mainly due to the Association’s direct involvement and link with the immediately formed Hillingdon House Farm Action Group and the latter’s final victory.

An ongoing threat is the issue of Central Railway’s plan to develop the Chiltern

Line, which would affect a large proportion of our members in Ickenham and everybody in Ruislip, who own properties along the railway line.

An action group CRAG has been formed, and our Association is actively involved with them in combating this new proposal. We are aware that a development of the Chiltern Line will inevitably call for railway depots close to motorway junctions as a next step, and we are on our guard.

Currently we are keeping a constant watch on Tesco’s activities with regard to the former Master Brewer site. Since they withdrew their application in Jan 2007, all has been quiet apart from some traffic monitoring. We will obviously continue to oppose any proposals, with which we disagree, with regard to both this site and the empty space on the opposite side of Long Lane.

The development of the ex RAF Base at West Ruislip for mixed dwellings and elderly persons care home units had been approved and outline planning permission granted in July 2007. We are in close contact with the developers, VSM, to achieve the best possible design results and facilities for the Ickenham community, and are keeping a close watch on the traffic implications.

In a bid to improve the immediate surroundings and facilities for Ickenham Residents we have successfully campaigned for the renovation of the playgrounds in Swakeleys Park and Copthall Road and we were instrumental in the redesigning of the recycling centre in Community Close. We are currently involved in the reviving of the site around the Gospel Oak at the top of Woodstock Drive and in the renovation of Ickenham Pump.

The most important help we require, is the feedback from our members on any current issue, and we invite you to assist and support us in the future as in the past.

Our Committee consists of approximately 16 people, most of whom have a specific job to do. such as Secretary, Treasurer, Minutes Secretary, planning matters, PR etc. We are also represented on other organizations such as the Ickenham Conservation Panel, Police Forum, and the Hillingdon Alliance of Residents’ Associations. Individual Committee members have watching briefs on area such as Health, Northolt Aerodrome and developments at Heathrow.

Most committee members are also responsible for a particular area of Ickenham and have

about 8 Road Stewards each. The Road Stewards deliver our newsletter ‘Ickenham Calling’ four times a year, and collect subs in the summer. It is also the Area Steward’s responsibility to ensure that this is all done as efficiently as possible so that our members are aware of the activities of the Association and its Committee, and know whom to contact, if they have a problem.

One thing we decline to get involved with is disputes between neighbours; we can only point the interested parties in the direction of people, policies and departments who may be able to help them.

Apart from our AGM, which is held in April, we also have an exhibition/stand at the bi-annual Festival of Ickenham Gala Day in June, with an Open Forum in the alternate years. We also organize a Road Stewards Social Evening once a year, so that any current problems can be discussed with committee members, and most importantly to say ‘thank you’.