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1 December 2003
TRTG December Newsletter - The primary concern of the
Terrace Group is the retention of public open space on the
Riverside. Click
here to read the newsletter
21 November 2003
DATE FOR PLANNING INQUIRY ANNOUNCED
The Inquiry into the Council's Short-term Scheme will commence
on 11 February 2004. It's anticipated to last for 3 days and
it will probably be held at York House. Details will follow.
Update to Planning Application 01/0540/FUL:
An alternative location for the new pontoon
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Click
here for the explanatory letter to the Council's
Development Control Manager, with details of the pontoon.
The Terrace Group's scheme has already received planning
permission; this is an update.
Click
here to see the drawing. |
16 November 2003
NEW DRAWINGS FOR THE TERRACE SCHEME
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Architect Martin Stearman
has produced new drawings to indicate what can be done
with the pool site, and an imaginative redevelopment
of the back of the south side of King Street.
Click
here to see the drawings, with notes. |
Letters relating to the Riverside and the
Terrace scheme
Jack
Betteridge (Twickenham Society Group) on Twickenham Online:
the Council's proposed changes to the UDP could lay it open
to large-scale commercial exploitation by
developers.
Martin Stearman, 10
November
Sam Jones, 27 October
Peter Francis, 26 October
8 November 2003
The
Council Leader's report to Cabinet, 11 November
This sets out the new timetable for the Council's proposed
short-term scheme, plus the anticipated additional costs resulting
from the planning inquiry.
3 October 2003
PLANNING INQUIRY FOR THE COUNCIL'S SHORT TERM SCHEME
Letter
from the Government Office for London:
After very careful consideration of all the information before
him, the First Secretary of State considers that the development
proposals may raise issues which conflict with government guidance
for Conservation Areas (PPG15 - Planning and the Historic Environment).
He has therefore decided to call in the application for public
inquiry and his own decision.
Full text here.
See also Ron Chappell's letter, "No
Vision on the Riverside"
3 October 2003
PLANNING INQUIRY FOR THE COUNCIL'S SHORT TERM SCHEME
Letter
from the Government Office for London:
After very careful consideration of all the information before
him, the First Secretary of State considers that the development
proposals may raise issues which conflict with government guidance
for Conservation Areas (PPG15 - Planning and the Historic Environment).
He has therefore decided to call in the application for public
inquiry and his own decision.
Full text here.
See also Ron Chappell's letter, "No
Vision on the Riverside"
1 October 2003
New
illustrations showing how the poolsite could look
There is still time to save the Riverside from the Council's
plan for total redevelopment. The attached sketches draw on
ideas put forward by the TRTGG and others.
15 August 2003 - UPDATE
Letter to all our supporters 12/8/03
The Council is pursuing its own piecemeal and short term plans
for the Riverside, and is now applying for permission to demolish
the main changing room building fronting the River.
The Council has to obtain permission for demolition from the
Secretary of State Government Office for London because the
site is in a Conservation Area, For the Councils 5 year plan
this building will be replaced by landscaping a walkway and
providing two benches for the use of the public.
At least the Councils planning committee has expressed concerns
that there are no toilets and that the remainder of the scheme
is surrounded by a 2.4 m high security fence.
But the building being taken down has its own toilets, could
be used by the community and could form the Terrace Garden
that has widespread local support.
The Council propose to build a children's playground. on a
strip of land adjoining Wharf Lane Unlike all other local children's
playgrounds this will be surrounded by a new 1.8 m high security
fence.
Project costs to date are £720,000. Plus maintenance
costs at present £50,000 per year.
Long term plans for the site are not known but the whole site
is likely to be redeveloped for housing shops and cafes. The
existing, now closed public toilets in Water Lane are planned
to be sold.
THE PUBLIC ARE NOT BEING TOLD WHAT THE
COUNCIL REALLY INTEND.
This information is required by the GOL in a Conservation Area.
The current proposals have a 5-year duration only and will
then be destroyed. Important Facts
- The site was, until closed by the previous Tory Council
in public use. It should be returned to public use and
should not be redeveloped for housing with only limited
public benefit.
- Full information is not available for what it is proposed
to build on this site after demolition.
- The existing buildings could be retained at lower level
and used by the Community Organisations who have been identified
and wish to use them. At present one building is used by
a Community Welfare Organisation.
- Renovation of an existing building is more cost effective
than rebuilding. A community based proposal to landscape
the site and retain some of the buildings for river related
and community uses already has Planning Approval.
- With imagination this site could vie with Richmond's
popular terrace garden overlooking the River.
- The present Council scheme is short term, resulting in
uncertainty and repeated disturbance at some point in the
future.
- The Council's proposals relate to only 1/4 of the site.
3/4 of the site will be fenced of and a repository for
fly tipping as at present and is planned to remain like
this until redevelopment is achieved at some point in the
future.
- This scheme is costly for the limited facilities proposed.
- There are no details of the precise protection for existing
mature trees.
- There are no river related activities as required by
the UDP planning brief for this site.
- The Pontoon requirement of the area Planning Brief T1
has been ignored.
- The surrounding sites are owned by developers keen to
rebuild and improve the area. Why are the Council not urgently
in discussion with them to redevelop these vacant and run-down
sites in order that the pool site returns to public use?
If you have any comments, concerns and objections to what is
proposed please let The Government Office for London GOL knows.
ASAP
Please refer to applications numbers 03/1142/CAC
and 03/1141/FUL.
Secretary of State
Government Office of London
Planning Casework North, South & West
9th Floor, Riverwalk House
157-161 Millbank
London SW1 P 4RR
Email: jpierce.gol@go-regions.gsi.gov.uk
1 August 2003 - UPDATE
On 31 July the Council Planning Committee has voted to grant
planning permission for the short term scheme for the poolsite,
despite opposition from the Terrace Group, and local residents
concerned about the nature of the scheme and its potential
permanence.
See Twickenham
Online for a full report.
More details and the Terrace Group's response will follow.
See
the Council's Planning Committee page for basic information.
Note from
Ron Chappell:
No Vision on the Riverside
Richmond Councils latest proposals for their 5 year short
term scheme are due to come before the planning committee
on the 31 July.
There is still no information available as to what they
propose to provide on the site under their long term
redevelopment proposals, except that the cost of consultants
fees for all schemes are growing.
These short term proposals reveal a further tentative
step towards site use by the public in line with the
proposals most of which which already have planning permission
put forward by the Twickenham Terrace Garden Group.
There is a planted area, children's playground, seats,
and the possibility of a cabin providing a combined café and
public toilets.
Unfortunately the scheme only provides:
- Public access to one quarter of the site.
- Views of the River are through a 1.8 am high security
mesh screen.
- Does not achieve the election pledge of public
access to the whole site described as a Thames side
jewel!
- It demolishes the building that could provide the
planning requirement of River related uses.
- It also demolishes the building that could provide
the café,toilets and an unobstructed view of
the River from the Terrace that the TRTG would provide.
We recognise that this application is the first stage
of the Conservative election pledge to provide public
access to the whole site, but we are concerned that their
intention to redevelop the whole site will leave the
public with little open space.
We await with interest the Council's long term proposals
for meeting their election pledge to "CREATE A LANDSCAPED
PUBLIC RIVERSIDE OPEN SPACE...FOR THIS THAMES SIDE JEWEL".
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To record an interest to speak at the Planning Meeting on 31st
July, please contact:
Sarah Albert
Committee Manager
020 8891 7275
s.albert@richmond.gov.uk
23 June 2003
Letter
from Ron Chappell to Government Office for London
10 June 2003
Press Release
The Twickenham Riverside Terrace Group notes with concern that
Richmond Council has authorised expenditure of over £200,000
for advisors, officers and public relations costs for the next
9 months work on the long-term proposals including the Twickenham
Challenge.
This is understood to be the in house costs for the project
to the market testing stage. In order to appoint a developer
for the long term development of the site it appears that further
expenditure of the order of £280,000 per year is likely
to be incurred for the next five years.
No details are available for these long-term proposals, and
they are likely to be dependant on future negotiation with
the developer. Add to this the Council's £1/2 million
short term scheme for 5 years which will provide, a few seats,
plants, security screen, and a children's playground giving
access to only 1/4 of the site. Resulting in a probable total
expenditure of the order of £2 million.
This extravagant expenditure follows the pattern of history
for this site where a lot of money is spent with no perceived
result. This contrasts with the TRTG own viable illustrated
proposals for a cost of £650,000 for the whole site which
could be implemented immediately.
The question must be answered by this Council, why is this
costly time consuming procedure continuing which is so wasteful
of the Council tax payers money. with no tangible public benefit.
27 May 2003 - Update
Letter
from John Reekie 21 May opposing temporary scheme
Proposed revisions to the UDP
Proposed
revisions to the UDP for the poolsite are online.
Click here to see them and to find out how to comment.
Comments must be submitted to the Council by 5pm on 3
June.
The Riverside area has been increased to include the Service
Road, the car park behind the Abbey National Building Society,
and the Embankment from the upstream (Teddington) end to the
draw dock at the foot of Water Lane.
25 May 2003
LISTING OF TWICKENHAM RIVERSIDE SWIMMING POOL
Readers will be aware that there is a national campaign to
save open air Lidos. The majority of this countries Lidos were
built in the 1930's at the time of a newly awakened interest
in health and sport. They were often built by civic minded
Councils and were a great success.
Twickenham open air riverside swimming pool is a local example.
Built in 1934 by the then Twickenham Urban District Council.
The architecture of the Lidos built in this period were often
in the Art Deco style and Twickenham is no exception. The Art
Deco movement is the subject of a hugely successful current
exhibition at the V&A Museum.
Richmond Council who own the site in Twickenham should be concerned
to conserve and investigate its potential. The Council has
policies which could ensure this investigation and consideration
of renovation, but has consistently chosen to ignore these.
Because of this failure to consider the potential use by the
community of such a facility The Twickenham Riverside Terrace
group has decided to apply for Listed Building status for the
pool site buildings.
This is currently being considered by the Government Department
responsible for such matters, the Department of Culture Media
And Sports (DCMS).
The TRT group has particular concerns that the renovation and
use of the existing buildings has not been considered in any
report over the last two decades despite evident planning policies
to encourage this.
As a piece of supreme irony the very organisations who could
make use of the buildings are being invited to compete amongst
themselves through the Twickenham Challenge, in order to raise
funds for a new building on site.
Conservation, renovation, sustainability, ethical policies,
environmentally friendly are all phrases in the vocabulary
of the Council which are ignored when it's expedient. No consideration
has been taken of the huge cost of new building on this site
relative to the refurbishment cost of the existing buildings.
This Council informed us that it has no money for a development
for the community on this site. However it has managed from
a seemingly bottomless purse to find £800,000 to commission
further reports, security fence the site, build a children's
playground, provide 6 benches and remove a building. Duration
of proposals 5 years, then destruction, as a whole new development
appears to threaten the long term future of the site with only
limited public space or benefit.
The future development of this site is unknown, but we should
all remember that in the Richmond & Twickenham Times before
the last elections the Conservatives said their vision was " ....the
River should be open to the town...leading to a landscaped
public open space."
This is why we consider it necessary to List the existing Buildings
so that the community gets a proper deal and a secure future
stake on the Riverside. Remember what this Council wishes to
forget: that the site was purchased in 1924 for public walks
and pleasure purposes.
Some of the reasons for listing:
- A good example of a 1930's public lido, retaining a large
proportion of original features;
- A significant local public building, designed by the
Borough Architect and built by public demand with public
money;
- Remembered with affection by many local people and their
families, who enjoyed using it for many years;
- Capable of economic refurbishment and adaptation;
- Capable of making a major positive contribution to the
townscape and riverside setting.
If you support us please write to ......
Mr Anthony Nonyelu
The Department of Culture Media and Sport
Architecture and Historic Environment Division
2-4 Cockspur Street
London SW1Y 5DH.
9 May 2003 - Update
Letter
from Ron Chappell May 9 opposing demolition
Letter from Ken Elmes
26 April opposing demolition
As you are aware The Council is pursuing its own plans for
the Riverside.
Despite your letters of support for the Terrace Garden Scheme
your Council is determined to scupper it.
The Council through its advisors is applying for permission
to demolish the main changing room building fronting the River
and in its place landscaping a walkway and providing two benches
for the use of the public.
On a strip of land adjoining Wharf Lane a children's playground
will be constructed. There will be a new security fence to
the whole site in order to keep out the public.
Duration of this 5 years. Cost £480,000. plus maintenance
costs at present £50,000 per year.
We have been told that we do not qualify for the Twickenham
Challenge.
So if you have any concerns and objections to what is proposed
please let the Council and The Government Office for London
GOL know.
The Council can only carry out demolition in a Conservation
area if they have the permission of the GOL. This site is in
a Conservation area.
Public consultation on the proposals are limited to that applicable
under planning law. There will be no other public consultation!
Good reasons for objecting
- The site was until closed by the previous Tory Council
in public use. It should be returned to public use and
should not be redeveloped for housing with only limited
public benefit.
- Full information is not available for what is proposed
to build on this site after demolition. (This level of
information is required in a Conservation Area) THE PUBLIC
ARE NOT BEING TOLD WHAT THE COUNCIL REALLY INTEND. The
current proposals have a 5 year duration only and will
then be destroyed.
- The existing buildings could be retained at lower level
and used by the Community Organisations have been identified
who wish to use them. At present one building is used by
a Community Welfare Organisation.
- Renovation of an existing building is more cost effective
than rebuilding. A community based proposal to landscape
the site and retain some of the buildings for river related
and community uses already has approval.
- This scheme is expensive for what is proposed and is
said to be short term, resulting in uncertainty and repeated
disturbance at some point in the future.
- The Council's proposals relate to only 1/4 of the site.
3/4 of the site will be fenced of and a repository for
fly tipping as at present and is planned to remain like
this until redevelopment is achieved at some point in the
future.
- There are no details of the precise protection for existing
mature trees.
- There has been no official ecological survey to establish
the known presence of protected species plants and wildlife.
The community undertook such a survey which the Council
has ignored.
- There are no river related activities as required by
the UDP planning brief for this site.
- The Public Toilets will be removed.
- The surrounding sites are owned by developers keen to
rebuild and improve the area. Why are the Council not urgently
in discussion with them to redevelop these vacant and run-down
sites in order that the pool site returns to public use?
For your objections to the Council (and copy to the GOL) please
refer to applications numbers 03/1142/CAC and 03/1141/FUL.
Objections must be with the Council
by the 9 May!
Objections must be with the GOL by the 16 May!
The addresses are: LBRuT Planning Department
Civic Centre
York Street
Twickenham TW13BZ
email r.summers@richmond.gov.uk
Secretary of State
Government Office of London
Planning Casework North, South &West
9th Floor Riverwalk House
157-161 Millbank
London SW1 P 4RR.
email jpierce.gol@go-regions.gsi.gov.uk
26 April 2003
COUNCIL CABINET MEETING TO DISCUSS COSTS OF RIVERSIDE SCHEMES
The Cabinet will meet at 7.30 pm on Tuesday, 29 April at
York House. They will receive a report on the internal and
external costs for the long-term scheme to redevelop the
Riverside, plus an overview of the latest responses to the
Twickenham Challenge.
Click
here for the Agenda and go to Item 14 for the Riverside.
Click here to read Ron
Chappell's letter: "The Real Twickenham Challenge: Accommodation
Already Available".
21 April 2003
1. COUNCIL APPLIES TO DEMOLISH PART OF POOL BUILDING
On 14 April, in two planning applications 03/1141/FUL & 03/1142/CAC the
Council applied for planning permission to demolish part
of the existing pool buildings that are integral to the Terrace
development. Text of the notice of application:
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03/1141/FUL
Location: POOL SITE, THE
EMBANKMENT, TWICKENHAM
Agent: DEARLE AND HENDERSON,
COIN HOUSE, 2 GEES COURT, ST CHRISTOPHERS PLACE, W1U
1JA
Proposal: Demolition
of pool building (plant/changing rooms and entrance space)
hard and soft landscaping of resultant footprint. Partial
clearance of poolside lido to form park and children's
play area secured by fencing. Steps from lower to upper
area. Short term scheme pending future development envisaged
5 year duration
Library: Twickenham
03/1142 /CAC
Location: POOL SITE, THE
EMBANKMENT, TWICKENHAM
Agent: DEALE AND HENDERSON,
COIN HOUSE, 2 GEE COURT, ST CHRISTOPHERS PLACE, LONDON
W1u 1JA
Proposal: Total demolition
of pool changing and plant rooms with exception of retaining
wall at rear ground floor
Library: Twickenham |
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Letters opposing demolition must be submitted to the Council's
planning department, quoting number 03/1141/FUL,
and 03/1142/CAC within 21 days of 14 April.
Copies of letters should also be sent to the Government
Office for London (GOL):
Mr J Pierce
Government Office for London
9th floor
Riverwalk House
157-161 Millbank
London SW1P 4RR
Email JPIERCE.GOL@go-regions.gsi.gov.uk
The GOL's
rules for demolition in a conservation area are set out
on Twickenham Online. Click
here to see them.
2. The Revised UDP for the poolsite
area
Proposed revisions to the UDP for the poolsite are now online.
The Riverside area has been increased to include the Service
Road, the car park behind the Abbey National Building Society
(currently owned by Dawnay Day, the property company who
own the properties on the south (river) side of King St),
and the Embankment from the upstream (Teddington) end to
the draw dock at the foot of Water Lane.
Click
here to see and comment on the revisions. Comments must
be registered by 5 June.
Public Meeting on the Riverside, 27th March
2003
The meeting was well attended, and the issues of the Council's
preference for their Plan B over the Terrace Group's scheme,
an the relative costs, were raised several times. For a report
of the meeting, see the Twickenham
River Centre website.
New material: Tom
McKevitt's presentation, with illustrations of the Council's
projected short term scheme for the riverside, is on the River
Centre site. Click
here to view it.
26 March 2003: News release
TWICKENHAM RIVERSIDE TERRACE GROUP
are pleased to announce that LBRuT Council have now given a
further APPROVED PLANNING PERMISSION for more detailed TRTG
proposals for the landscaping, a biodiversity study garden,
a public square and performance area, a children's play area,
together with an ramp for the disabled access on the Swimming
Pool site.
These updated proposal were submitted last year by the TRTG
so that many of the ideas that came out of the consultation
work undertaken by the Twickenham Society, the TRTG and other
groups could be incorporated into the regeneration of the site.
The Councils Option B plan however ignores all these proposals
except the children's play area.
If you agree that Option B is not even
a good short-term scheme, then please let the Council know
your views when they advertise the Planning and Conservation
Area Applications to demolish the existing buildings.
From Twickenham Riverside Terrace Garden Group Committee
(The full letter from the Council confirming the notice of
planning permission can be seen by application to the Twickenham
Riverside Terrace Group: tel 020 8255 1270, or see the Contact
Us page on this website.)
25 March 2003: Press Release
Today, Twickenham Riverside Terrace Group today submitted
by letter suggestions to meet the Borough Councils "Challenge" on
the redevelopment of The Baths site and Twickenham Riverside.
Although still committed to maximum use of the site for public
use the Group at their weekly meeting considered the apparent
attitude of the Council Cabinet to press on with some form
of commercial development of the site.
The Groups new plans would provide for minimum housing development
to meet the council's insistence on the development while
opening up the site for greater public use with terracing
and public walks.
"We will discuss these new suggestions with our supporters at the first
opportunity" said Mr Reekie group chairman; he went on to say "The
Council's new timetable does not give time for further Public Consultation of
any design before today's closing date for the challenge".
Further confusion over the riversides 20-year history of
Council mismanagement of the site was caused by the publication
of the Conservative newsletter "In Touch" where
they clearly state, the New Council will "Give the Twickenham
Riverside Terrace Group a full year in which to raise the
money to implement their proposed scheme". They go on
to say "Under a Conservative Council Twickenham riverside
will be for local people".
See our letter to
Council Officer Tom McKevitt, attached.
27 February 2003 - PRESS RELEASE
At their weekly committee meeting on Wednesday the Twickenham
Riverside Terrace Group took note of Tuesdays Council Cabinet
decision and proposes to pursue alternatives to secure long
term public benefit on this site.
Our supporters will be consulted on these alternatives and
their views will be taken into account in any decisions arrived
at by the committee.
A response will be made to the Twickenham Challenge and co-operation
will continue with the Twickenham Society Co-ordinating Group
to secure the long term improvement of this important riverside
site.
26 February 2003
Last night, the Council Cabinet voted to proceed with the planning
application for their short-term scheme, as they agreed on
10 December 2002.
Ron Chappell for the
Terrace Group reminded Councillors that the Terrace scheme
has wide public support. He warned of the danger of losing
a valuable opportunity on the Riverside.
Architect Clive Wren also
spoke, about the shortcomings of the Council's planned scheme
and the respective costs and benefits of it compared to the
Terrace Group's plans.
After a very brief discussion, the Cabinet voted to proceed
with their scheme. A draft
development programme has been issued.
Twickenham
Online Report
Twickenham
Online Riverside Letters
Twickenham
River Centre update
Open Letter from
Twickenham Riverside Terrace Garden Group Committee re
the Report to Cabinet, 25 Feb. (24
Feb)
24 Feb 03: Letter to Gillian Norton, Chief
Executive, LBRuT
Click here for the
full text of our letter
Open letter to the
Public and the Council _ Twickenham Riverside: a Lost Opportunity and
12 reasons for adopting the Twickenham Riverside Terrace Group's
scheme (21 Feb)
Council Cabinet Meeting 7.30pm, Tuesday
25th February 2003, York House
Twickenham
Riverside is Item 19 on the agenda
Material available online includes the Chief Executive's 25-page
report and drawings of a projected scheme.
Please note the second and third items
in Appendix A below: the Terrace Group's letters to the Council
regarding the Council's Option B, as poor value for money,
and our response to the Council's report of 10 December 2002.
Click on the documents to download them from the Council:
1. The
Chief Executive's 25-page report (.pdf, slow to open)
2. Appendix
A: Twickenham Riverside Terrace Group, 1 (.pdf)
3. Appendix
A: Twickenham Riverside Terrace Group, 2 (.pdf)
4. Appendix
A: Strawberry Hill Residents' Association (.pdf)
5. Appendix
A: Clive Wren (.pdf)
6. Appendix
A: M Landolt (.pdf)
7. Appendix
A: Dawnay Day (.pdf)
8. Appendix
A: Environment Trust (.pdf)
9. Appendix
A: York House Society (.pdf)
10. Appendix
A: Twickenham Society Group 1 (slow .pdf)
11. Appendix
A: Twickenham Society Group, 2 (.pdf)
12. Appendix
A:JH Vie (.pdf)
13. Appendix
A: Andreas Sarhage (.pdf)
14. Appendix
A: Izabela Descours (.pdf)
15. Drawings:
Elevations
16. Drawings:
Plan
17. Drawings:
Sections
Council
Press release, 31 January (see the last paragraph)
Please see the News Archive for
newsletters, updates and statements for 2001 and 2002.
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