January 2009 Archives

Councillors will decide next week whether to approval plans for a new 40-room hotel in South Harrow next door to the police station.

Eurotraveller Hotel Group applied to change the use of the vacant Scanmoor House in Northolt Road from office (B1) to hotel (C1).

There would be 40 rooms, after developers added an extra floor.

Harrow Council's strategic planning committee will debate the scheme on Wednesday February 4.

Councillors will decide next week whether to approval plans for a new 40-room hotel in South Harrow next door to the police station.

Eurotraveller Hotel Group applied to change the use of the vacant Scanmoor House in Northolt Road from office (B1) to hotel (C1).

There would be 40 rooms, after developers added an extra floor.

Harrow Council's strategic planning committee will debate the scheme on Wednesday February 4.

Two pupils at Heathfield Girls School in Pinner hope to study at Oxford next year - having received offers from the elite university.
Zahava Lever, 17, hopes to read music at St Peter's College while Bhavnisha wants to study classics at St Anne's College.
Both girls were elated after finding out they had been accepted and said: "The hard work put into the interview process has paid off.
"We are delighted to have made the interview process and are even happier at being accepted."
Zahava has already passed her music A-Level, having taken it a year early, and is now studying classics, Latin and French.
She hopes to one day teach music and her ultimate ambition would be to play the harp at The Royal Opera House.
Bhavnisha is studying Latin, classics, mathematics and physics at A-Level and having excelled in classics she has decided to carry on with the subject.

Young people in Harrow borough are being encouraged to take part in a new volunteering project.

A new programme of full-time charity work for 16 to 25-year-olds is being launched after Harrow Council was awarded a £285,000 grant.

The money from v, the youth volunteering organisation, will help launch v Talent Year, which will aim to recruit 30 volunteers from the borough over the next two years.

Christine Bednell, portfolio holder for children's services, said: "I would urge as many young people as possible to take up this opportunity to make a difference to children and young people's services - it's a great way to gain training and a qualification. We will support any dedicated young people willing to give up their time to help the community they live in."

The volunteers will help the council's children's services from youth to play work, as well as supporting children and people with special needs and disabilities.

In the first year 30 per cent of the young volunteers will be unemployed and in the second year this will rise to 50 per cent.

Volunteers will also receive a level 2 National Vocational Qualification and a Personal Development Grant.

Anyone interested in volunteering should call 020 8420 9244 or
email .

Passengers can quiz British Transport Police (BTP) officers next week about crime and safety on the Jubilee line.

The Jubilee Line Neighbourhood Policing Team - comprising one sergeant, two constables and two PCSOs - has been patrolling the line and stations between Stanmore and St Jonh's Wood stops since its launch in August.

They will take questions at the conference room at Wembley Park London Underground Station, Bridge Road, Wembley, on Thursday 5 February from 7pm onwards. It will the second such public Q&A the team has held.

PC Matt Dobbs said: "The neighbourhood team means we can respond to issues and needs more easily, as well as making people feel safer using the Tube.

"We are easy to contact and always welcome feedback from the community.

"These meetings give passengers the opportunity to highlight issues of concern and discuss them with us. ItÕs always very helpful to speak to people face-to-face."

Tunde Taiwo, group station manager for the London Underground's Willesden Green Group, said: "Our staff work closely with the BTP Neighbourhood Policing Teams and whilst crime remains low on our network we know it's important to talk with our passengers as well as the communities that live and work close to our Tube station.

"We are fully supportive of these meetings and hope they'll help everyone move around more confidently and safely across our network."

n Anyone who is unable to attend but would like to share comments can email the Jubilee Line NPT by email at Jubileelinenorth.npt@btp.pnn.police.uk

People met at Harrow Civic Centre on Sunday to pray for peace.

Councillor Navin Shah, (Labour) member for Brent and Harrow, jointly organised the meeting with the Middlesex New Synagogue, Muslim Council of Britain and Harrow Interfaith Council.

They prayed for all those who had lost their lives or have suffered during recent conflicts in the Middle East. The climax of the meeting was the signing of a peace declaration by almost 100 people.

Mr Shah said: "The gathering was a true reflection of the unity and harmony enshrined in Harrow's diverse community".

Representatives from nine faiths including Hinduism, Judaism and Sikhism read prayers as well as committing to maintaining peace and harmony among Harrow's diverse communities.

The fire brigade and police commanders for Harrow are also to sign the declaration. Mr Shah is hoping to conduct regular meetings to reflect upon global crisis.

When asked what was gained from the meeting he said: "At a local level we saw the will to continue working for piece and solidarity. It is great to see the desire to live in Harmony."

A pioneering Harrow scheme to get more young people teaching the elderly to surf the net is being introduced across the borough.

The Double-Klik project gets ex-young offenders giving lessons to the over 50s at two Harrow day care centres.

The Youth Offending Team is planning to join forces with Harrow YMCA in February to get more people online.

Councillor Christine Bednell, portfolio holder for children's services, said: "This is an innovative and cost-effective opportunity, developed by Harrow Council for both the older generation to get online and for the young offenders to engage in something positive and help members of the community.

"We are seeing our seniors corresponding with distant friends and relatives by email and even using YouTube to watch and listen to their favourite music and film clips and it has proved a great hit, many of our senior clients have never before used a computer.
"Getting more supervisors for the service will mean that even more people are able to get on the web with confidence."

Harrow College is also considering offering a foundation or NVQ level qualification to people taking part in the Double-Klik scheme.

Pinner hosted a child discipline programme launch at the police station.

The YOU (Youth Organised Uniform) Project, run jointly by councils across London and the police, has been set up with the help of uniformed youth groups, like the police cadets and boys' brigade, to get children into different activities.

The aim is to help prevent or reduce youth crime, but also to build self-confidence and discipline among young people.

Last week Pinner police station, in Waxwell Lane, was the latest place in the capital to host the groups, in a bid to give young people in the area an opportunity to take part in a wider range of activities.

It is hoped that the project will be rolled out in full by the spring, with a series of poster campaigns expected in the area.

Chief Inspector Ed Sherry, who helps launch the programme across London said: "These organisations offer a great opportunity for young people who might not otherwise think of joining a uniformed group.

"It's not specifically for young offender, it's for anyone who wants to build character and leadership qualities and ultimately start helping out in the community."

The meeting was attended by inspector Dave Burgum, who runs Harrow's Police Cadets, and Harrow Mayor John Nickolay.

Frosts, Freezes and Fairs is the latest topic for Pinner Local History Society - which will hold its next meeting on the first Thursday in February.
The lecture, which boasts a special talk from Ian Curtis, will be held at the Village Hall, Chapel Lane Car Park, Pinner, from 8pm.
It's free to members, with a suggested donation of £2 for visitors.

Slimmer from Pinner sheds five-and-a-half stones and shrinks by eight dress sizes.

Fifty-three-year-old Liz Walkling has lost the weight since joining Slimming World two-and-a-half years ago.

The Pinner mother-of-two said: "I woke up one morning and thought enough was enough. I was getting back ache, pains in my joints and needed to lose weight.

"Then I joined Slimming World and the weight began to drop off rapidly. It soon settled out and I have gone from a size 20 to a size 12.

"I felt inspired after seeing the results to try and help others get the motivation to join a group. People kept telling me it was a shame there wasn't a class in Hatch End so I got together with Slimming World and we started a group on Tuesday last week."

The group, in Hatch End High School, Headstone Lane, already has 18 members but is looking for more recruits who want to get into shape.

Now in its 40th year, Slimming World is also launching a new eating plan where people can eat as much as they like of foods such as fruit, vegetables, lean meat, fish, eggs, pasta and potatoes.

Members are also encouraged to eat meals that contain high levels of calcium and to enjoy treats like chocolate biscuits and the occasional glass of wine every day.

Liz said: "Joining Slimming World is a really easy and achievable way to start a weight-loss campaign. I am really looking forward to welcoming new members to my Hatch End group.

"We offer a flexible eating plan, which offers so much more variety and freedom, especially if you are a busy mum with a family or always on the run."

For more information call Liz on 020 8429 1812 or Lynn Sheridan, district manager, on 07920 798919.