PROPOSALS designed to improve Eastcote Underground Station for commuters have been criticised by residents who insist the plans are "a recipe for disaster."

Hillingdon council has been consulting residents and local groups on the proposed changes to the station, funded by TFL's Station Access Scheme, which includes the provision of bicycle racks and dropped pavements for better disabled access, revised parking and bus stop allocation and a zebra crossing on Field End Road.

THIS is the final week for entries into the Uxbridge Gazette's eighth annual Local Heroes awards, which recognises ordinary people who deserve credit for doing good deeds.

The competition, held in association with Uxbridge College, acknowledges the hard work, dedication and courage shown by people who live or work in Hillingdon and have put others first, overcome adversity, or made an outstanding contribution to the community.

This week, Janice Andrews was nominated for her commitment towards Ruislip skate park, as well as many other projects in the area for young people and the elderly.

If you know someone who fits the bill, this is your last chance to nominate them and help them win up to £1,000!

Come and see Father Christmas in Eastcote on Sunday 13th December. Catch a miniature steam train to see him.

BROWNIES and guides planted bulbs on an overgrown grassed area in Eastcote to help make the area shine.

The girls from 3rd Eastcote Guides and 6th Eastcote Brownies helped members of Eastcote Village Conservation Panel plant bulbs on Tudor Lodge Corner, at the junction of Field End Road and Bridle Road, on Saturday (14).

Lesley Crowcroft, chairman of the conservation panel, said: "On a cold, blustery, wet day the brownies and guides cleared weeds, ivy and leaves, they planted shrubs and daffodil bulbs to improve the corner.

"Tudor Lodge Hotel also very kindly invited us into the hotel for refreshments."

A TEENAGER found guilty of assaulting a man outside a pizza shop is due to be sentenced.

Sam Chapman, 18, of Dulverton Road, Ruislip Manor, assaulted Sarbjeet Singh Shina, causing him actual bodily harm, outside Village Pizza, in Field End Road, Eastcote, on May 9.
He was found guilty at Isleworth Crown Court on October 22 and will be sentenced on Friday (20).

EASTCOTE Residents' Association (ERA) held their second successful open forum with almost 100 people turning up to put questions to the committee members and councillors.

The association held their first open forum last year and because of its popularity decided to do it again last night (10) in St Lawrence Church Hall, Bridle Road, Eastcote.

CHILDREN and staff at Haydon School joined in a fun day of dressing up as their favourite book characters as part of an annual event.

On Friday (6) all 300 of the year seven pupils and the teachers at the school in Wiltshire Lane, Eastcote, got dressed up for the school's annual book day.

Leigh Beauchamp, head of English, said: "Haydon's annual book day just continues to grow and inspire pupils and staff alike.

"With such a positive approach to reading and literacy pupils' reading has seen an increase of a staggering eight per cent since the day began three years ago.

"With many staff members also dressing up for the day the message is clear - reading is fun and important too.

"It has got bigger and bigger due to its success and now sixth formers also dress up as well as nearly all the staff. We hope to have a whole school one next year."

Pupils also won prizes for the best costumes and Joe Craig, author of the Jimmy Coates series ran a workshop on the day and there was also a pantomime in the afternoon, paid for by the PTA.

STREET thugs who were caught on CCTV launching an unprovoked attack on two friends must wait until next month to hear their fate.

The victims, aged 20, were punched and kicked outside Sam's Chicken shop, in Field End Road, Eastcote, while waiting for a taxi home.

They had earlier enjoyed a peaceful night out at The Manor pub across the street when confronted by the group at 1.30am on March 7.

Lee Luke, 24, of Trevor Crescent, Ruislip, Eric Thomson, 19, of Mahlon Avenue, Ruislip, Jabey Bathurst, 21, of Brook Close, Ruislip, and Rikki Floyd, 21, from Northolt, all pleaded guilty to causing an affray.

They were due to be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday (6), but it had to be adjourned until December 4 because probation reports had not been prepared.

Floyd also pleaded guilty to assaulting Thomas Byrne, who was with his friend Leandros Liasides when attacked by the group.

James O'Connell, prosecuting, told the court: "This was an unprovoked attack outside a bar late at night.

"All of these defendants were involved in attacking the two complainants and the prosecution say the instigator was Thomson, who was seen throwing the first punch and starting the incident off."

Judge Anna Guggenheim QC was shown CCTV footage captured by a Hillingdon Council camera and was told police are seeking ASBO's against all four.

Mr Byrne suffered bruising to his left eye, cheek and nose, plus swelling to his jaw and a cut lip. He continued suffering headaches for some time afterwards.

Mr Liasides suffered fractured teeth, which requires ongoing dentistry, plus bruising and a cut lip.

Thomson will also be sentenced on an unrelated charge of converting criminal property and the absent Luke, due to also be sentenced for burglary, had a warrant issued for his arrest.

A COUPLE fear someone will soon be killed outside their house after a car crashed into their front garden for the fifth time in less than four years.

Roy, 79, and Jackie Redrup, 55, have lived in Field End Road, near the junction with Farthing Close, in Eastcote, for 15 years, but these freak accidents only started in 2006.

The latest crash happened on November 1, when an off-duty police officer careered through both their front garden walls before ending up on its side next to their house.

The second crash, in October 2007, involved a car hitting their hedge before flipping over it and landing on their neighbours' cars in their driveway.

Mr Redrup said: "The area has become an absolute danger to any pedestrian.

"In the morning and the evening there's a lot of traffic so the cars move slowly, but at night they travel at great speeds.

"In all the accidents the drivers said they suddenly lost control of their cars for some reason."

Mrs Redrup thinks excessive speed is the reason for the crashes and wants Hillingdon Council to do something about the road before someone is hurt.

She said: "This is a 30mph road and if the people who crashed had been doing 30mph or less they might have lost control of their cars but they wouldn't have done as much damage to our property as they did.

"It's not about our walls because we can replace them, but one day someone will be killed."
The couple think the road should be made 20mph or a speed camera should be installed. They have also contacted Eastcote Residents' Association (ERA) for their help.

Ian Brooks, transport and road safety member for the ERA, said: "The volume and speed of cars on the roads is creating risks, which is leading to crashes, which is then leading to a perception that there's a lack of safety. That is undermining the quality of life because less people want to walk and cycle, and therefore congestion increases.

"We are concerned that the responsible authorities are not working effectively together on this."

Mary Worrall, head of highways and green spaces at the council, said: "Hillingdon Council is aware of issues relating to this specific area and has already been liaising with the owner of the affected property to look at ways that these issues can be addressed.

"The accidents that have happened in this part of the road have been a result of drivers not taking due care and attention and so the council is considering ways to ensure drivers are using this road more safely."

A FINANICAL advisor has appeared in court accused with helping two 'celebrity accountants' to organise a multi-million pound tax scam involving some of their wealthiest clients.

Vikash Kulkar, from Twickenham, appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on Friday (30), alongside Roy and Shirley Faichney, of Barnhill, Eastcote, and David and Nicola Perrin, from Luton.

Senior executives Mr Faichney and Mr Perrin face claims they set up a sophisticated scheme to evade tax on £219 million in charitable donations. Their wives are also accused of involvement in their husbands' dealings at stockmarket listed accountancy firm Vantis.

It is alleged Kulkar, 55, helped attract people to the scheme.

All five face prosecution by HM Revenue and Customs for 'cheating her Majesty and the public revenue'.

Hundreds of people are said to have participated in the Vantis tax scheme, including an Oscar winning film executive, a celebrity psychiatrist, senior City bankers, top barristers and company directors.

Faichney, managing director of Vantis' tax division, and Perrin, the deputy managing director are accused of 'devising and promoting' the scheme, from which they both allegedly made £4.5m which they kept in offshore bank accounts to evade tax.

Prosecutor Julian Christopher said: "The prosecution allege that Mr Perrion and Mr Faichney devised and promoted a tax scheme which took advantage of the legislation providing tax relief on the donations of share to charities."

Kulkar, along with the other men, listed 328 million shares in four companies in the Channel Island Stock Exchange and then sold them to investors at a value of £1 and claimed tax relief on them, the court heard.

Mr Christopher added: "This allowed claims to be made for tax relief of an estimated £219m."

Kulkar helped to 'artificially rank' the shares on the stock exchange, is is alleged.

The five are due to appear at Blackfriars Crown Court on January 18, where they are expected to deny the charges.