Last week's news agenda was dominated by stories about parties in Downing Street and there was little attention to a major Government announcement on Monday 10 January that developers will be forced to meet the cost of fixing the cladding crisis. This should come as a great relief for residents in High Point Village in Hayes Town but also to those living in Sheringham Court in Clayton Road (pictured). The Government had previously excluded medium rise blocks of flats like theirs from the scheme to replace potentially dangerous cladding but it looks like the latest announcement will help those who live there.

The saga of how to deal with the outcome of the terrible Grenfell Tower tragedy is far from over. It is not known if all developers will pay up and there are still unresolved issues on who should meet the cost of other fire safety measures

There has been a big increase in childhood obesity since the start of the coronavirus pandemic and on Monday 10 January the Government launched its new childhood nutrition campaign. This includes the Healthier Eating Toolkit which gives 10 different activities to help families make positive changes to their diet. To download it click on this link.

Alongside the Toolkit there is now an App for users to scan supermarket foods to find out the levels of saturated fats, salt and sugar and to identify healthier alternatives. Click here to find out how to get the App.

This is the question that Brunel University PhD student, Nevena Balezdrova is looking to answer. She would like to conduct research with a number of people in Hayes and is looking to speak to those aged 60+ years old, from two of the following groups - British natives, and people from ethnic backgrounds (all other ethnic backgrounds). The research will look at experience and access to local community services including Adult Social Care, help with daily needs and home adaptations. Do you know how and where to access care? Do you know what care services are and what you can get help with?

If you are able to assist with this important piece of research please click on this link to answer a few short questions or alternatively get in touch by email All information will be treated in confidence and kept anonymous,

On Thursday 20 January and Wednesday 26 January NHS North West London will be hosting on-line discussions for young people, parents, guardians, carers, teachers and school nurses to provide information, and answer any questions you might have about the vaccine and immunisation programme for those aged between 12 and 15 years old.

There will be a panel of speakers including consultant paediatricians Dr Liz Whittaker and Dr Hermione Lyall, a GP, as well as a parent. To book a place please click on one of the following links:

• Thursday 20 January between 11am and 12 noon
• Wednesday 26 January between 7pm and 8pm.

How would you like to be able to spot a Red Kite (pictured), a Robin or maybe even a Kingfisher in Hayes? All you need to do is to join the guided bird-spotting walk in Cranford Park on Friday 28 January at 12 noon for a chance to see these amazing birds and many others besides. It is being organised as part of the RSPB’s ‘Big Garden Bird Watch’. It’s free of charge and each participant will be given a ‘spotter’s guide’ to help them along the way. Places are limited and booking in advance is essential by sending an email. Meet at the information centre in Cranford Park. The route is over uneven and muddy ground, so sturdy footwear is recommended.

Harrow College/Uxbridge College (HCUC) continues to offer a wide range of free short face to face and online courses for adult jobseekers and those looking to boost their careers. Courses include adult social care, business administration, customer service, digital skills, personal development for employment and warehousing. Training is based at the Hayes Campus in Coldharbour Lane with some fully online distance-learning courses.

To find out what is available in January and February click on this link and send any queries to the people listed in the document.

As Chair of the Hayes Town Partnership I get involved in a very broad range of issues - everything from a half billion pounds development scheme to the size of the opening in the post box outside the Hesa Primary Care Centre in Station Road (pictured). It is just about big enough for a postcard and it is no joke, especially when you are trying to send a late Christmas card and the box in W H Smith's is no longer available because they have closed for the night. It is a long walk to find another box. A reader of Hayes Town News raised the topic with me a couple of years ago and the Post Office said that the opening had been narrowed because of vandalism. Now it has been brought up again by another reader and we are going to have a fresh attempt at getting it changed

As usual the monthly update from London Sport is packed full with useful information. Especially helpful is the free grant-funding workshop on Tuesday 25 January and details of the Mayor of London's £900,000 funding pot for the coronavirus recovery fund. There is also information about a group called The Fore who are looking to help marginalised groups that are led by people who have had difficulties getting funding in the past.

H4All, the local consortium of voluntary sector care service providers, is advertising a total of 6 job vacancies. They include welfare support, admin assistants, project management and payroll and pensions. To find out more about each post. how to apply and the deadlines please click on this link.

It is a real struggle for community groups in Hayes to find space for their activities at a price they can afford. We don't want to lose any of our Hayes-based groups but any that are desperate might like to know that there is an option to take over some space at Key House in High Street Yiewsley. This consists of a number of small offices with shared areas and facilities. It is run by a Trust and they are holding an Open Day on Tuesday 18 January between 1pm and 4pm. Click here to book a place

Everywhere you go these days there are vans, bicycles and motor bikes making home deliveries. Canal boat are now getting in on the act. The picture shows a narrow boat in Hayes Town just pulling away from one of the boats on the winter moorings after delivering some coal. It was fully loaded up with more bags of coal plus calor gas cylinders and diesel which are all essential to survive on a boat during the winter months.