Monthly Archives: May 2013

Preview of Proposals for Redevelopment of Uplands House.

Redrow Homes is undertaking consultation on their emerging proposals for the redevelopment of Uplands House in Four Ashes Road.

The site is currently owned and operated by De Vere Venues.  Redrow Homes has been in discussions with De Vere about the availability of the site and believes that the site is an ideal location for a small number of quality new homes.

In advance of the public consultation exhibition, Redrow homes are inviting residents to a preview of the event on Friday 17th May 2013 from 2.30pm – 3.30pm at Hughenden Valley Village Hall.

At the preview session you will be able to view the emerging proposals, leave your comments and also put questions to the project team.

The public exhibition at the Hughenden Valley Village Hall will be held from 4pm – 8pm on the same day.

National Audit Office says “HS2 rail benefits to economy are unclear”

The National Audit Office (NAO) has warned that the benefits of the HS2 high-speed rail project on the economy are unclear.

The NAO said in a report that it had “reservations” about how the London-to-Birmingham link would deliver growth, adding that the project had an estimated £3.3bn funding gap. However, Patrick McLoughlin the Transport Secretary  said the NAO’s conclusions were based on old data. Labour said the report was a “worrying wake-up call” for the government.

The NAO said it had “reservations about the business case” and said the timetable for the planning phase of the project – with work due to start in 2016-17 – was “challenging”.

The report, published on 16th May, said: “In particular, in presenting its case for investment in the project, the Department of Transport (DfT) has poorly articulated the strategic need for a transformation in rail capacity and how High Speed 2 will help generate regional economic growth.”

The department’s “methodology for appraising the project puts a high emphasis on journey-time savings, from faster and more reliable journeys, but the relationship between these savings and the strategic reasons for doing the project, such as rebalancing regional economies, is unclear”.

The full coverage of the news from the BBC can be read here

HVRA AGM Tuesday 21st May

The Annual General Meeting of the Hughenden Valley Residents Association will be held in the Hughenden Small Village Hall on Tuesday 21st May 2013 starting at 7.30pm. The formal business of the AGM will include an address from the Chairman, the approval of the Association’s accounts, and the election of the Association’s officers for the forthcoming year. There will then be a talk by Steve Kirkpatrick of the National Trust.
HVRA Agenda for 2013 AGM
AGM 2012 Minutes