The AGM was well attended this year with some interesting discussion about estate matters.

The Easter Egg hunt was exceptionally popular this year. We thank those older hunters who gave up their tickets to children when it became clear that demand outstripped supply this year.

The children’s disco successfully took place on Saturday 11^th June 2005.

We are planning an informal picnic in the park centred around a cricket or rounders match. Details to follow, but the current intention is to have an event to which residents can decide to come on the day, with no charge.

A wine tasting evening is under consideration for later in 2005 as well as a repeat fish and chip quiz. We are discussing sponsorship of the wine tasting with Victoria Wine in Eastcote. Should we go ahead with a quiz we may invite all those attending to bring 2 questions. The quiz will then be truly of the estate and avoid hours of head scratching by committee member(s).

At the AGM on 12.5.05 our current Neighbourhood watch coordinator Jenny Buckmaster expressed a wish to stand down as coordinator. Would anyone who may be interested in taking this on please contact Jenny Buckmaster. Neighbourhood watch is important for the estate but we do need someone to act as coordinator so please do contact Jenny if you feel you may be able to help. The following is an extract of the Neighbourhood watch report given at the AGM:

Generally, the past year has been quiet with very few occasions when we have had to use the cascade warning system and these have been mainly van break-ins rather than residential.

For the best crime-prevention advice, talk to your local Crime Prevention Officer or contact the Neighbourhood Watch Office, Ruislip Police Station, The Oaks, Ruislip 020 8246 1825 or E-mail All@Hillingdonnhw.co.uk.

The whole of the neighbourhood watch scheme is becoming much more organised and automated with regular updates being received via the web. We also receive regular crime figures for the area. Our area Eastcote and Ruislip ranks a very good 18^th out of 22 with 77 residential burglaries being reported between April 2004 and March 2005. The highest number reported in an area was 145 burglaries and the lowest was 33 just to give you some comparison

Hillingdon NHW hold a conference every year at the Civic Centre. This year it was on Sunday 12th June. Our representative can attend this conference. It is very informative as there are some interesting speakers and also gives an opportunity to question some of Hillingdon’s senior police officers about the Policing of our area

Our WEB site and e-mail address are currently unavailable. We are looking for a volunteer to run these. Should you like to volunteer please contact Richard Maude.

This may be ideal for a teenager to take on and would look good on their C.V. should they run it successfully for a period. Should you need any training for this please let the treasurer have details of your proposal and we will consider reimbursing the cost.

The best front garden awards will be judged again this summer. As usual there will be awards for the best in each road and an overall winner. It is of note that no one front garden has wun the overall award twice. Champagne prizes will be awarded to all winners courtesy of Victoria Wine.

We would appreciate the return of the best garden trophy by the current holder to Richard Maude 41 St Lawrence

Our road stewards play a vital part in the existence of the Association.The tasks of the road stewards are to circulate newsletters and other leaflets (approx. 4 per year), to collect the subscriptions and to welcome new residents to the estate. There is a Road Stewards and Neigbourhood watch social evening in March every year to enable the volunteers to meet each other and also meet the committee. Should you be interested in carrying out this role please advise a member of the committee. You need not be restricted to your area of the estate.

This is open to all under 16 year olds. Your poem must be about the estate or how you feel about life on the estate. You must be happy for the poem to be included in a future newsletter. Book token awards will be made to any poem included in a newsletter. Please submit to 33 St Lawrence Drive with a note of you name address and age.

The Road Stewards have mostly collected the 2005 subscription of £3.00. Should you not have paid yet the treasurer would be happy to receive a cheque payable to the Eastcote Park Estate Association. Please deliver to 33 St Lawrence Drive. We encourage members to add a donation of a similar amount which we will pass on to our nominated charity which is currently Grangewood School. You may wish to check the school’s website which is : www.grangewoodschool.co.uk

Help is always appreciated on maintaining the Island in St Lawrence drive at the entrance to the estate. We encourage anyone who can spare a few moments to pull up a few weeds and help keep the island looking attractive.

We are no longer paying to be affiliated to the Eastcote Residents Association. However as we have some common interests we are sure they will not mind us picking extracts from their spring newsletter which may be of interest to Eastcote park residents:

Outline planning permission was given on 31.3.05 for the development of Lime Grove for residential purposes. The planning committee noted concerns over access to the site and asked the planning dept to look at alternative access routes.

CCTV were installed 11.4.05 in Eastcote. For funding reasons these are of the type known as shop front CCTV systems rather than the Town Centre Tilt Pan Zoom (TPZ) System.

It would appear that motorised scooters are being sold to unsuspecting people without making clear what the legal situation is in regard to the use of these scooters. Such scooters can be used on private property but before than can be used on a public road they need to comply with the construction and use regulations. Scooters are unlikely to comply with these regulation as brakes, lights and tyres will not be up to standard. In addition before use on a public road motorised scooters must be registered, taxed and insured. The rider must also hold a valid driving licence and use a crash helmet. The use of such scooters on the pavement is illegal

As noted at the AGM we encourage residents to raise any issues concerning the estate with the council as and when they have a grievance. Consistent pressure from residents usually bears results. Some useful contacts are:

Environmental services 01895-556000

In relation to abandoned cars, fly tipping, grass cutting, road gritting, refuse collection, pavements, street lighting and tree complaints.

Environmental services 01895-250189

In relation to bonfires in gardens.

Environmental services 01895- 250155

In relation to bonfires on industrial or commercial sites

Catherine Dann- Local Councillor

e-mail cdann@hillingdon.gov.uk

020 8868 9144

Bruce Baker – Local Councillor

e-mail bbaker@hillingdon.gov.uk

0208 866 1658

David Payne – Local Councillor

e-mail dpayne@hillingdon.gov.uk

020 8866 2986

Parks Constabulary- 01895-239241

Available 9.00am to 10pm

Police community support officers- 01895-556322 or e-mail mpatel5@hillingdon.gov.uk

In relation to anti-social behaviour or crime hot spots.

Beat police officer 0208 246 1818

Neighbourhood Watch office, Ruislip Police Station, the Oaks. 020 8246 1825 or E-mail all@Hillingdonnhw.co.uk

Parking Enforcement Helpline 01895 277383 available in office hours for problems with cars parked on yellow lines or across a drive.

E-mail parkingenforcement@hillingdon.gov.uk

Queries on planning applications at the Civic Centre 01895 250111

The intention is to carry forward the list of contacts to future newsletters. Should your experience find that any need updating please advise Martin Hand.