HT News

MP John McDonnell sets up conservation panel

2:50pm Thursday 18th March 2010

A NEW conservation panel has been launched following a meeting set up by a local MP.

John McDonnell, (Lab), MP for Hayes & Harlington convened two community conferences last autumn involving local community groups, local residents and Hillingdon council’s planning officers to plan how local heritage sites and buildings can be protected.

A number of local sites such as Harmondsworth’s medieval barn had come under threat, were deteriorating like Benlow Works or had been obliterated like the Wagon and Horses pump.

As a result of the community conferences, local residents undertook a survey of local sites, along with the council’s heritage officers. The council has now compiled a new list of sites which are now protected in various ways.

In addition local residents and local community groups volunteered to assist in setting up a new conservation panel for the Hayes and Harlington constituency.

John McDonnell convened a meeting of these volunteers and the new panel has been launched.

Heritage expert and local resident, Justine Bayley who is also a member of the Friends of Harmondsworth Barn, has become the chair.

John said “over the last year thanks to the efforts of local residents and hard work by the local planning officers we have made great strides in securing our local heritage. The Conservation Panel will make a major contribution to preserving our local heritage sties and buildings for future generations”

John also convened the public meeting in Harmondsworth Village when Harmondsworth’s medieval barn came under threat. From this meeting John set up the Friends of Harmondsworth Barn and recruited the support of English Heritage in securing the fabric of the barn.

The barn is in private hands as a result of Hillingdon Council’s refusal to purchase the barn for £1 when the original owners sought to dispose of it. The private owner has failed to maintain the barn and so at John’s and the Friend’s instigation English Heritage has repaired the barn to secure its fabric and is now willing to take the barn into its ownership and manage it in order to secure its long term future.

John has also prompted English Heritage to place Benlow Works, a listed building in Hayes, on its at risk register. This means that English Heritage will now seek to work with its owner to preserve the building and secure its future for the enjoyment of the community and future generations.

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