Hillingdon Council is calling on local residents to share their views on its proposed 2024/25 budget plans—so if there’s something you’d like to see improved, now’s the time to speak up. The consultation, which is open to everyone, gives people the chance to help shape where funds are allocated, what services get prioritised, and how their community can thrive in the year ahead.

There’s a clear message here: those who get involved have an opportunity to influence real change in their neighbourhoods. From improved leisure facilities and environmental initiatives to better support for families and young people, this is your moment to highlight what matters most. After all, if you don’t tell the Council what you’d like to see, you can’t really grumble when it doesn’t happen.

The consultation period is designed to be straightforward and accessible, ensuring that everyone—no matter their background or schedule—can make their voices heard. By taking a few minutes now, you can help create a budget that reflects local priorities, values, and aspirations.

So why wait? Offer your feedback and contribute to a brighter, better-managed community. Your suggestions today could help shape Hillingdon’s tomorrow.

https://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/article/13874

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Take part in our consultation on the draft Uxbridge Vision, which will help guide future development and attract investment to the area. 

In collaboration with the local community, we’ve created this new vision to ensure the high street and surrounding area continues to thrive by making it an even better place to live, work and do business.

The post Uxbridge Vision: Have your say appeared first on My Uxbridge.

Here’s the thing – I hear someone complaining about it with entirely incorrect information every day. In the last month alone, I have heard of people confused in almost every aspect. From the woman who said, “I’ll have to pay £12.50 per day, and my car is a 2019”, to the person that ran out to buy a new van and thinks they may need another new one next year.

The trouble is, there are a lot of questions, and it’s not as cut and dry as it could or should be. So we are going over some of the points you need to consider. Today is the 2nd means you can now register to scrap your car if you don’t fall into the bracket that could before the 21st.

“Now, any London resident living in one of the 32 London boroughs or the City of London with an eligible vehicle can apply to scrap a car or motorcycle, as you no longer need to receive certain benefits to apply.” – https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/scrappage-schemes

Luckily, you don’t need to pay the ULEZ charge if you are parked inside the zone and don’t drive.

Understanding the ULEZ Expansion

The ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) expansion is coming to Greater London at the end of the month. With its imminent arrival, there’s been a noticeable surge in misinformation and confusion. The last thing anyone wants is to be slapped with unexpected bills or, worse, to pay when they don’t have to. This article aims to demystify the ULEZ expansion, discussing what it means for you and determining if you will be affected.

What is ULEZ?

Before diving into the specifics of the expansion, it’s crucial to understand what ULEZ is. The Ultra Low Emission Zone is a designated area in London where vehicles must meet strict emission standards or pay a daily charge. This initiative was designed to improve air quality in the city by reducing the number of polluting cars on the road. The ULEZ has been in effect in central London for a while, but on the 29th of August, it will expand to cover Greater London too. Yes, Uxbridge & Hillingdon will be affected.

Why is the ULEZ expanding?

The initial ULEZ was confined to central London. However, with the program’s success in reducing emissions and improving air quality, the decision was made to expand its reach. This expansion aims to cover a more extensive area, thus benefiting more residents with cleaner air and promoting a shift to cleaner transportation methods.

Will my vehicle be affected?

The main concern for many is whether the expansion will affect their vehicle. Vehicles are assessed based on their emissions, specifically:

– Petrol cars, vans and minibuses must meet Euro 4 standards.
– Diesel cars, vans and minibuses must meet Euro 6 standards.
– Motorcycles, mopeds, and other L-category vehicles must meet Euro 3 standards.

You can check if your vehicle meets the ULEZ standards using online tools provided by Transport for London.

And that is the only way to check. There’s kind of an age thing, but it’s based on the standards.

Check your vehicle here: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle/

What are the ULEZ charges?

If your vehicle doesn’t meet the required standards, you’ll be subject to a daily charge:

– Cars, motorcycles, and small vans: £12.50
– Larger vehicles like lorries and buses: £100

These charges apply 24/7 and can add up quickly, so being prepared is essential. God forbid you went out every day for a month without realising you were being charged. Because then you would get a fine for each day that is £90 if paid within 14 days, and £180 if you don’t. I’m not sure how quickly they send out those fines, but I’m pretty sure you could soon rack up the debt if you don’t realise you should be paying.

More info on ULEZ penalty charges here: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/penalty-charges-for-ulez

Exemptions and Discounts

Some vehicles qualify for a temporary discount or are entirely exempt from the ULEZ charges. These include:

– Vehicles for disabled people are exempt (only until the 25th of October 2027).
– Historic or classic vehicles registered before 1979 are exempt.
– Some speciality vehicles also get exemptions.

It’s essential to check the complete list of exemptions on the official ULEZ website to ensure you’re not paying unnecessarily.

More info on discounts and exemptions for ULEZ expansion: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/discounts-and-exemptions

What are the Euro 6 Standards?

Source: https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/emissions/euro-emissions-standards/

And while we may not see a change in the specs soon, with Euro 7 specs being released next year, this threshold will be moving – even if not every year.

Conclusion

The ULEZ expansion is a significant step towards a cleaner and healthier London, and while the rollout may seem… rocky, we can probably all agree that less pollution is a good thing. It would have been nice if the Scrappage scheme was offered to everyone from the start, and we have less than eight days to scrap a car and get a new one – but what can you do?

While change often brings about concerns and confusion, being informed is the best way to navigate these new waters smoothly. Ensure you know if your vehicle is affected, be aware of potential charges, and always stay updated on exemptions and discounts to avoid unnecessary expenses. Let’s all work together for a greener future!

Let us know what you think about the ULEZ expansion below.

*Disclaimer. This isn’t legally binding, and we have nothing to do with TfL. Defiantly check official sources to reach your conclusions.

The post The ULEZ Expansion is Here. Here’s What You Need to Know appeared first on My Uxbridge.

We understand that you need to check EVERYTHING before you move, like where you will be living, what the transport is like, which school are in the area, and much more!

We decided to create this handy guide to welcome people to Uxbridge from the rest of the UK, and abroad.

With Uxbridge having higher-educational institutes such as Brunel University, and Uxbridge College, as well as many businesses being based here, there is always an influx of people moving to Uxbridge year-round.

We will be providing a menu for this article so that you can easily navigate around all the information, so you can look at specific sections that are relevant to you at the time.

Accomodation in Uxbridge

Firstly, where are you going to live in Uxbridge? That really depends on why you are moving to Uxbridge in the first place.

If you are moving here for work but is likely a shorter term stay, then you will probably want to rent in the area. If you are moving here to live, or move closer to family, then you may be looking to buy or rent a larger property.

If, however, you are moving here for education, then you may be interested in student accommodation, and affordable rooms to rent, or local apartments to rent.

Let’s dive in.

Local Estate Agents

There are many local estate agents that deal with local Uxbridge properties, so there should be no shortage of options. There are also some that specialise in university accommodation.

Estate agents in Uxbridge town centre:

Coopers Residential

Coopers Uxbridge rental properties

Coopers Properties to buy in Uxbridge.

Cameron Estate Agents

Gibbs Gillespie

Lakin & Co. Estate Agents

Andrews Residential

andrewsresidential.co.uk

Link Up Estate & Letting Agents

Linkprop.co.uk

Student Accommodation

Help with the Move

Moving can be stressful, so here are few things to help with the move itself. From local removals companies in Uxbridge to self-storage in the area.

Removals Companies

If you are looking for a removals company, then a good place to start is the BAR or British Association of Removers. It’s kind of like GAS Safe or CIPHE for Plumbers – it basically means the removals company meets certain standards, and you get an extra level of insurance for your move.

bar.co.uk

Comparemymove.co.uk

Moving Boxes & Crate Hire

Whether you are getting in a professional or doing it yourself, you will probably need some moving boxes, whether they are cardboard or the reusable plastic crates used by the pros.

Pluscrates.com

Pluscrates offer a range of plastic hire crates from 45p per week, with the “standard” sized crate coming in at 77p per week.

Teacrate.co.uk

Teacrate offer a similar range of crates, with the standard crate coming in at 89p per week.

Self-Storage

Self storage is all about large warehouses in less built-up area, and as such, there aren’t many in Uxbridge itself, but there are a few nearby.

Space Station

Space Station is located in West Drayton, but that is pretty close to Uxbridge.

space-station.co.uk

Safestore

Safestore is situated in Hayes

safestore.co.uk

Access

Access is also situated in Hayes

accessstorage.com

Schools & Education

There are many schools in the area, and also includes University campuses and college.

Universities

Brunel University

Colleges

Uxbridge College

Secondary Schools

Uxbridge High School

Bishopshalt

Swakeleys School for Girls

Vyners

Douay Martyrs

Primary Schools

Hermitage Primary School

ACS International School

St Helens College

Oak Farm Infant School

There are a lot more schools in the surrounding areas that are a short commute from Uxbridge.

Transport

Uxbridge has pretty robust transport links, including the Uxbridge underground station, a bus garage that is a terminus for quite a few busses and is also a stones-throw from Heathrow Airport.

Trains & Underground

Uxbridge tube station is located in the heart of Uxbridge town centre, with the bus garage located right next to it. Uxbridge station, built in 1933, is the western terminus for some Metropolitan and Piccadilly lines branches of the London Underground.

Busses

The tube station, is connected to a bus terminus with connections to Hillingdon, Hayes, Ealing, Ruislip, and Slough.

Uxbridge station has a few bus routes that serve the local area, including TFL Bus routes 222, 331, 427, 607, A10, U1, U2, U3, U4, U5, U7, U9, U10 and N207.

There are also 8 non – TfL (Transport for London) routes: First Berkshire & The Thames Valley route 3, Green Line route 724 and Carousel Buses routes 101, 102, 105, 580, 581 & 583.

Canal

The Grand Union Canal in Uxbridge was extended to Uxbridge in the late 18th century.

The Grand Union Canal, formerly the Grand Junction Canal, connects London with Birmingham and passes immediately to the west of Uxbridge, forming part of the borough boundary. The first stretch was built in the late 18th century from Brentford to Uxbridge.

Roads

The B483 road connects the centre of Uxbridge with the Swakeleys Roundabout junction of the A40. Uxbridge is also connected by major roads to Slough, Denham, Ickenham, Cowley, Iver Heath, Hillingdon Heath and Hayes.

Airport & Air Travel

Heathrow airport is only a bus ride away from Uxbridge, so this makes travel abroad a pretty simple affair.

The proximity to Uxbridge also means that cab/Uber fares, are kept to a minimum if you don’t want to go by bus.

You can also get the Heathrow connect train from Hayes station.

Food & Drink

Before moving to Uxbridge, you’ll probably want to make sure your favourite cuisine is catered for. Plus, you’ll probabl want to order food or go out for dinner during the move if you havene’t had a chance to unpack the kitchen yet.

Uxbridge has no shortage of places to eat, covering pretty much every cuisine in the town centre itself, and if you are willing to travel (or order using the myriad services available), then pretty much every cuisine is catered for multiple times.

Uxbridge town centre itself has Mexican restaurants, Italian, American, fast-food, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Portugese and more. We go over this in another article, but here are a few that stand out.

Restaurants & Eating out

Chiquito

Nando’s

Wagamama

Frankie & Benny’s

Pizza Express

Nona Rosa

Bella Italia

KFC

Pizza Hut

Zizzi

Five Guys

Red Iron Burger

Burrito Kitchen

Prezzo

Ask

McDonald’s

Burger King

Gastropubs Pubs & Bars

The Good Yarn – Wetherspoons

Bar Italia

Whelans

Cafés & Coffee Shops

Starbucks

Costa (x 5)

PopiAndy’s

M&S Cafe

Nero

Harris & Hoole

Café Giardino

Krispy Kreme

Millers Tap

Auntie Annie’s Pretzels

Local Links

Local Council

hillingdon.gov.uk

Local Media

Uxbridge FM

Hayes FM

Sources:

Years of living in Uxbridge 😉

Wikipedia

Intu Uxbridge

My London

The post Moving to Uxbridge, West London. The Ultimate Guide appeared first on My Uxbridge.

Don’t throw it away!

This is really just common decency, as you wouldn’t want the same to happen to you. Sure you may not want to track down the rightful recipient either, but there is a far easier way to handle it.

Firstly there are two reasons you may be getting someone else’s post:

• they used to live at your address
• they have a similar address to you

They have a similar address to you

If it is option two – that they have a similar address to you, then it may be as simple as sending it on to the right place. If it everything down to the street is correct, then it is probably a neighbours mail and fairly easy to rectify.

If you send it on to the right place, Royal Mail won’t deliver it to you by accident again. It’s free, and you don’t need a stamp.

They used to live at your address

In this scenario, the letter has turned up to the correct address, it is just the person it is for is no longer there. This can be harder to know how to solve, but it in fact quite simple.

You know the recipient’s new address

All you need to do is:

• cross out the address – but not the name
• write ‘no longer at this address, please forward’ and their new address on the front of the envelope
• put it in a post box

You don’t know the recipient’s new address

All you need to do is:

• cross out the address – but not the name
• write ‘not known at this address, return to sender’ on the front of the envelope – don’t worry if you don’t know who the sender is
• put it in a post box

It didn’t have your address on it

If it didn’t have your address on it at all – for example, it was meant for a neighbour with a similar postcode, you should:

• write ‘misdelivered to’, and your address, on the front of the envelope
• put it in a post box

We hope that helps you if you find yourself receiving someone else’s mail! For more information check out the citizen’s advice website.

The post What to do if you receive someone elses post appeared first on My Uxbridge.