Yet more data centres

Hayes is fast becoming the data capital of west London with three more centres approved by the Council's Planning Committee at its meeting on Thursday 2 October. Subject to confirmation by the Mayor of London, Colt Data Centres will demolish and replace the largely vacant Hayes Bridge Retail Park on the Uxbridge Road near to the Borough boundary with Southall. They already have two data centres under construction on the former Tudor Works in Beaconsfield Road (off Springfrield Road) and they plan to extend the site right up to the Uxbridge Road next to the Metro Bank - which will remain.

Over a ten year period they will build three more data centres and an innovation hub which will provide opportunities for future generations of data scientists. The hub (shown on the right of the picture) has been planned along with Brunel University but their future involvement in its management is not confirmed. The company already has an apprenticeship scheme in place with Uxbridge College.

A key issue for the Council has been for the applicants to show that they have secured power supplies so as to avoid a negative impact on the area and they have provided the necessary undertaking. The Planning Committee also asked for confirmation that local WiFi connectivity will not be compromised.

As part of the approval process the company will have to pay the Council the relevant sum under the Community Infrastructure Levy plus around £3 million for air quality and carbon offsets and a healthy streets/active travel contribution.

In addition to the five Colt data centres the Union Data Centre located between the Grand Union Canal and the Hayes Bypass A312 has recently received permission for a fourth unit and a data repository has been approved on part of the Silverdale Industrial Estate in Silverdale Road.

Data centres are treated as of national significance in planning because every part of life now seems to depend on them and growth in the use of artificial intelligence is accelerating demand. The centres do not generate many jobs after construction but the Hayes Town Partnership is pushing to ensure that those in security, cleaning and catering are locally recruited and this is supported by the Council. To see the Planning Committee report use this link. It is item 93.

Nobel prize for Hayes

The announcement on Monday 6 October of the awarding of the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine reminded me of the ceremony in 2022 when the incoming President of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers unveiled a plaque to mark the invention of the CT scanner in 1971 at the EMI factory in Hayes. The inventor, Godfrey Hounsfield (pictured) was the first person to combine X-ray and computer technology to produce a scanner that could generate images of organs like lungs and the brain. Until then X-rays could not take pictures of much more than bones.

It was called computed tomography which is the origin of the CT in the CT scanner His brilliant intuition has benefited millions of people around the world and he was a worthy recipient of the Nobel Prize along with an American academic who had done work on the theoretical mathematics of such a device. He also received a knighthood.

Sir Godfrey, as he became, was a remarkable man. On the day after the unveiling ceremony there was a symposium at the Royal Institution on the invention of the scanner and I met some members of his family. It turned out that he had never been to university and he was the only person who has received the Nobel prize for Medicine without having a degree. He did his pioneering work at the EMI Central Research Laboratory that was once based in Blyth Road - and so it is not stretching a point too much to say that Hayes received a Nobel Prize (unlike Donald Trump?). Are any readers able to identify the location of the plaque?

This is Hate Crime Awareness Week

National Hate Crime Awareness Week takes place every year with the aim of raising awareness of all the many forms of hate crime and encouraging victims to report. For 2025 it runs from Saturday 11 October to Saturday 18th and you can find out about the theme for this year by clicking here..

Hate crime includes assaults, verbal abuse, threats and other actions against a person because of his or her disability, faith, race, sexual orientation or transgender identity. People should not have to suffer just because they are different and the Police really want to hear from victims. To find out the various ways of reporting use this link.

Patients' views needed

Local GP practices want to hear from you!

GP practices across Hillingdon are collecting feedback on individual patient’s experience of accessing their services. They are inviting you to complete their Patient Access Survey using this link. It’s quick and will help shape future improvements to the services GPs deliver. Have your say today.

Your voice matters and can make a difference. Last year's survey confirmed that seeing the same clinician or team in some instances was important. As a result, some patients with the most complex needs will now get a named care team.

As well as taking part in the survey you could join local forums across the borough to discuss this further. Send an email to find out more.

Paper copies of the survey are available on request at your GP surgery.

Find out more about fundraising

On Wednesday 22 October H4All will be holding a free online workshop for fundraisers who are looking to launch or grow their community fundraising income. This course is designed to benefit small to medium-sized not-for-profit organisations. It will be suitable for people who are completely new to fundraising, as well as experienced fundraisers looking to broaden their skills.

The workshop will run from 10am to 3 30pm but be split into two separate sessions with a break for lunch and additional time in between to review course materials and reflect on the content.

The aim is to develop your knowledge, build your confidence, and equip you with a skills you can put into practice. The course will help you -

• Understand the different activities involved in Community Fundraising.
• Evaluate how Community Fundraising can work best for your organisation – assessing your objectives and opportunities, and what activities will give you the best return on investment.
• Get feedback on your ideas and practical advice.
• Begin developing a practical plan for your Community Fundraising – with measurable goals and realistic aims, and identify the best tools and fundraising platforms to use.
• Learn how to recruit fundraisers and volunteers and promote your fundraising opportunities.
• Develop your supporter retention and stewardship to maximise your community’s potential!
• Think about your wider Community Fundraising strategy, including building relationships, case studies, and monitoring and evaluation.

To attend the workshop or for more information please send an email

Walking with a purpose

Sponsored walks are a very good way of raising funds for charity and on Thursday 9 October I was delighted to talk to some people in Hayes Town who were doing just that. There were around 150 of them in total who were walking the canal towpath from Paddington to Little Britain Lake, a distance of 18 kilometers. They all work for WTW (Willis Towers Watson), an international company based in the City of London which helps organisations manage risk and improve workforce performance.They were raising money for the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), a suicide prevention charity. Some were looking a bit weary by the time they reached Hayes but I reassured them that there was not too far to go.

Invitation to the Health Fair

On Friday 24 October Botwell Green Library will be hosting a Health Fair between 11am and 3pm. It is part of the Council's Age Friendly Festival which replaces the annual Day of the Older Person and promises a wide range of advice stalls, health checks and taster sessions plus music, arts and crafts. It is free to attend and you can turn up at any time that suits you. Click here for more details.

A celebration to remember

Age UK Hillingdon Harrow & Brent tell me that their Silver Sunday 2025 event on 6 October in Ickenham was nothing short of magical—a joyful burst of community spirit that brought together laughter, music, and heartfelt connection. From the moment the doors opened, the energy was electric. Guests danced to classics from the 50s, 60s, and 70s, shared stories over tea, and embraced the warmth of togetherness.

One attendee summed it up perfectly: “I would like to thank you very much for having conceived and executed the idea of this disco, as well as having managed to organise it so successfully; choice of music, food, tombola, care and hospitality. Everyone seemed to have a great time; The dance floor was never empty! That indicates how much people were enjoying it.”

Age UK gave special thanks to the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Reeta Chamdal, (pictured) whose presence lit up the room. They said that her genuine interest and time spent chatting with guests made everyone feel valued. Her willingness to join in the fun was deeply appreciated and added a touch of civic pride to the day. They are already planning next year's event.

Have you heard of CIHSA?

I must confess that I had never heard of them until I received an email from the organisation concerned. It stands for Council for the Independent Scrutiny of Heathrow Airport and it replaced the Heathrow Airport Consultative Committee which you might not have heard of either. The Project Manager explains that their role is to assist dialogue between local communities, Heathrow and the government to ensure people's views are heard on the impact of Heathrow on their lives. 

CISHA is trying to reach as many local residents as possible to let them know how it can help them have their voices heard with issues related to Heathrow, especially the proposed expansion. They produce a regular newsletter which you can get by using this link. They also have a web site and one of the "Frequently Asked Questions" is open about the fact that they are 100% funded by Heathrow but it says that they have an independent Chair. You will be able to decide that for yourself in the light of future events.

Halloween crafts boat coming to Hayes

Elsdale II, the boat used for free rides at the Hayes Canal Festival will be visiting the Town Centre on Tuesday 28 October from 10am to 3pm for a Halloween-themed crafts event. This will be a free drop-in activity and all ages are welcome.

The boat will be moored on the Grand Union Canal in Western View near to Station Road bridge and the Old Crown pub.

Fire gate vandalised again

A selfish vandal has again attacked the fire gate that provides emergency access but stops through traffic between Station Road and Nield Road and St Anselm's Road. The lock has been damaged on a number of occasions but this time the gate has been broken into pieces as shown in the picture. The situation has been reported to the Council and action is in hand to provide a replacement. If any reader has any information that might lead to the identification of the person responsible please report it to the police or let me know.

Changes to parking restrictions

The Council regularly proposes new or amended parking and traffic management schemes in response to changing circumstances or petitions from residents. The latest batch includes the extension of the operating hours of the waiting restrictions outside 149 to 171 Coldharbour Lane and the formalisation of the dual use disabled parking and goods vehicle loading bay outside 14 to 18 Botwell Lane. Members of the public sometimes miss the consultation notices on lamp posts but you can see the details by using this link. The document you need is the one for 15 October and the deadline for comments is Wednesday 5 November