☕ 48 - Hillingdon Is Removing 700 Dog Bins From January, And Ruislip Could Step In

Hillingdon pulling out all 700 of its dog bins from January

The Ruislip Christmas night market opening the festive run at Manor Farm

A service of remembrance at the Polish Air Force Memorial this morning

Today is Diwali, the festival of lights. Sunday 8 November is the main day of the festival, which celebrates the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya and traditionally marks the start of the family season. It is a time for lights, lamps and food shared with family and neighbours, and for many households it is one of the biggest celebrations of the year. Happy Diwali to everyone celebrating.

Remembrance Sunday has a service at the Polish Air Force Memorial today. The South Ruislip Residents Association is holding a short service at the memorial on West End Road, South Ruislip, from 10.45am to 11.10am this Sunday morning. Details

Hillingdon is moving to block off pavements that drivers use as shortcuts. Residents who cross a verge to reach their own front door are the ones who will notice first, and the rule is the same across the borough.

Ruislip Christmas Night Market | The Great Barn, Manor Farm, Pinn Way, Ruislip HA4 7QL | Fri 13 Nov | 4pm-9pm - The festive season opens at Manor Farm with a night market of small business shopping, street food, three bars, live music and workshops. Market details

Ruislip Artisan Craft & Food Market | The Great Barn, Manor Farm, Pinn Way, Ruislip HA4 7QL | Sat 14 Nov | 10am-3pm - Local food producers, independent makers, street food stalls, picnic provisions and artisan goods, with plenty that is Fair Trade, small batch or organic. Market details

Ruislip Duck Pond Market | The Great Barn, Manor Farm, Pinn Way, Ruislip HA4 7QL | Sun 15 Nov | 10am-3pm - The regular Ruislip artisan market with local artists, crafters, food producers and street food stalls, plus live musicians. Market details

Baby and Child First Aid | Ruislip Manor Farm Stables, Bury Road, Ruislip HA4 7QL | Sun 15 Nov | 11.30am (£30) - A practical session for parents, grandparents and carers on what to do in an emergency. Book here

Sunday Sound Bath | Pinner Village Hall, Pinner HA5 1AA | Sun 15 Nov | 5pm (£20) - A sound bath to reset for the week ahead, with the bowls doing most of the work. Book here

Winter Reds & Cheese Tasting | Mouse & Grape, 120 Marsh Road, Pinner HA5 5NA | Tue 17 Nov | 7.30pm (£50) - An evening built around warming winter reds, tasting through four red wines from smooth and elegant to bold and full-bodied, each one paired with a different artisan cheese and an accompaniment. Book here

Yoga for Stress Release | Cannon Lane Methodist Church, Pinner HA5 1JD | Wed 18 Nov | 7.30pm-8.30pm (£15) - A gentle, supported hour of yoga built around breathing, mantra and meditation rather than effort or achievement. Book here

Beaujolais Day Tasting | Mouse & Grape, 120 Marsh Road, Pinner HA5 5NA | Thu 19 Nov | 7.30pm (£50) - Four wines from the Beaujolais region, including the newly released Beaujolais Nouveau, each paired with a French cheese and an accompaniment. Book here

Ickenham residents are keeping their own dog bins, and Ruislip could do the same. Bin There, Dung That wants the council to hand over Ickenham's 30-odd bins so residents and local businesses can empty and maintain them, and it will set the same thing up in other wards if a local volunteer leads it, which is the one thing it cannot supply. The Ruislip Residents' Association is already looking for a ward lead, someone who cares about the pavements, has a few hours a month, and is willing to talk to neighbours and the council. There is a ward lead form on the campaign site, or you can email the group. Bin There, Dung That

Hillingdon is taking away all around 700 of its dog waste bins. The Cabinet signed the change off on 22 October without any formal consultation, on the grounds that emptying the bins costs the borough about £160,000 a year. From mid-November, stickers saying that dog waste is welcome go onto selected ordinary litter bins, and the removals start in late January. Details

Hillingdon is cracking down on drivers who cross pavements and verges to reach their homes. Only the council can build a dropped kerb, and residents pay the full cost, so anyone driving over their own front garden without one should expect a warning letter first, a final warning next, and bollards or barriers after 21 days of not complying. The council says the scheme covers all of the borough's public highways, more than 735 miles of pavement, and that driving over a pavement without an authorised crossover is illegal and damages surfaces, pipes and cables underneath. Details

A Hayes woman who used her mother's Blue Badge to park near a primary school has been ordered to pay £2,514. The case at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court came with £2,224 in prosecution costs, a £207 fine and an £83 victim surcharge, and Hillingdon says it will pursue the toughest action the law allows against abuse of the scheme, which is good news for everyone who uses a badge honestly. Details

Harrow's rules for parks and public spaces are still open for comment until Sunday 15 November, if you have not already had your say. Consultation

Today and this week: the tube is running as normal for Pinner. There are no engineering works on the Metropolitan or the Piccadilly through to Sunday 15 November.

Next weekend, 14 and 15 November: no works on either line, so it is a clear run for anyone heading into town or out to the airport.