16 April, 2005

The TRTG asks.... More than £1.2 million spent over three years, but what have we got for that amount of money?

A temporary café and children's playground, and when they are removed in four years, what then? No future plans for community use?

As every local resident is aware, the Twickenham open-air pool site has a long and varied history of inactivity interspersed with abortive grand projects arranged or instigated by past Councils with the advice of their own team of consultants, often involving developers.

These grand proposals, having minimal public benefit and at a heavy cost to the community have been one by one rejected and seen off by public opinion. It was hoped that the change of Council in 2002 would result in a more sensible and practical solution for the community use of the site. At that time the only researched, illustrated and costed community proposal, at £650,000 for the whole site, that put forward by the Twickenham Riverside Terrace Group (TRTG) was rejected by the Council and their team of consultants as being impractical and economically unsound.

In order to concentrate attention on the soundness and practicality of the present Council's proposals since 2002, enquiries have been made under the Government's Freedom of Information Act to find out what expenditure has been made since 2002 on the Council's temporary proposals which are now just coming to fruition. It is not known what proportion of the given costs pertain to any long term plans or indeed if there are any. What is clear is that for a future life of 4 years from June 05 the present public open space covering only a 1/4 of the total site has cost £1.2 million, the equivalent of refurbishing any existing swimming pool.

Twickenham Riverside: for the years 2002 to 2005 the Council's costs are:

The Council inform that the 02/03 expenditure included some costs incurred under the previous administration. There are also be some additional indirect costs, such as senior management input where the Council does not account for such costs on a scheme by scheme basis.

Financial Conclusion
The community proposals put forward by TRTG for the whole site for now and for future generations were rejected by the Council and their advisors as being impractical and not economically viable. We are now asked to believe that spending £1.2 million over three years to achieve a public amenity of a 1/4 of the site for duration of four years is evidence of a practical and economic Council.

Community use must be the priority
The pool site was originally bought for public walks and pleasure purposes in 1924, a description similar to that applicable to Radnor Gardens. The availability of the whole site to the public as public open space would bring to an end years of neglect, and honour the original purchase by a community spirited Twickenham Council in 1924 long before expensive consultants and advisors were heard of. The use of the whole site by the public as public open space is an achievable goal, and would ensure that what is now being created is improved not destroyed.

We suggest the equivalent of Radnor Gardens alongside a working riverside front as a viable realizable alternative. One that can accommodate change and one that would be able to be used by people of all ages. There is no reason why the current planting and seating for 1/4 of the site can not be increased phase by phase to cover the whole site. The Arcadia fund has already offered to match funding 50:50 to improve and restore other local sections of the river bank. What the community needs is for sufficient funding to be available to obtain the Arcadia contribution. That the Council is no longer strapped for money is evident by the expenditure to date.

What we ask is that the money is spent on the area to create a public open space for the community and not spent on more expensive advice, particularly as that advice to date has a legacy of commercial exploitation.

public open space public open space public open space

29 March, 2005

NEWSLETTER FROM THE TWICKENHAM RIVERSIDE TERRACE GROUP

At its first meeting of 2005 the Twickenham Riverside Terrace Group (TRTG) passed a resolution to carry on its campaign to restore the Twickenham Riverside open-air pool site to public open space.

You should be aware that the recently commenced landscape work on the pool site, only covers approximately a quarter of the site, yet is costing over £750,000 and will only stay until 2009. The present Council has plans for its removal, lock stock barrel and climbing frame, in June 2009 to make way for an as yet undefined long term development advertised on the Council's site hoarding notice.

The Council's future plans are not known, but these plans will affect the whole pool site including the usable but closed toilets in Water Lane together with other Council owned land currently listed as up for sale in Water Lane & Bell Lane.

The questions that residents of the Borough would like an answer to are, what are the long term plans for this site and how can the expenditure of such a large sum of money be justified for such a short lived meager benefit?

The TRTG therefore give notice that the permanent restoration of public open space in accordance with the Unitary Development Plan Inspectors recommendation for the whole of the pool site is still the campaign objective of the TRTG and we shall continue to fight to restore this open space to the local community.

Your Support is a Key Factor

The support of some of the recipients of this email news has been invaluable in getting the forthcoming temporary partial use of the site as public open space.

Together, we have shamed the Council into activity after over 20 years of neglect.

Your continued support is essential if you wish to thwart future plans for any commercial profit-making development of this public open space amenity. Previous development schemes by different administrations have come to grief because the Council was deaf to public opinion. And your continued support is vital in order to carry on the fight to restore public open space to the whole of the Twickenham Open-air Pool site in accordance with its purchase in 1924 for "public walks and pleasure purposes".

There is no reason why the current expenditure of £750,000 should not be utilised for all time. Once created, the community facility can be improved and enlarged to include the whole site. The existing public toilets can be renovated, modernized, and possibly enlarged. The TRTG original concept of a terrace garden overlooking the river is still achievable with the knowledge and expertise at the Group's disposal.

With the will and the vision, the possibilities for this beautiful location as a public open space amenity for Twickenham residents, their children and visitors, can be realized without spending millions or giving it to developers.

Remember, the Council holds this land in trust for the community and the Councillors are your elected representatives. With sustained pressure from our Group, they can be made to heed public opinion and understand and implement the vision we have demonstrated for this unique riverside site.

If the Council had said to the TRTG, "here is £750,000" we could have created a unique facility for all and removed the site from predatory development to create a destination on the Embankment that would increase enjoyment and encourage the recreational use of the River Thames.

The TRTG has carried out its campaign, planning applications and schemes entirely by public donations from residents. And the fight is ongoing.

We would appreciate any donations, however small, to cover future costs. Cheques should be made payable to the Twickenham Riverside Terrace Group, and sent to:

TRTG
c/o Kenneth Elmes
72 Bucklands Road
Teddington TW11 9QS

The community will also be informed on developments, via this web site which continues to attract new supporters, who can advise us of their contact details, address and email address.

We kindly ask people who read this News Letter, who are officers of local groups to circulate the foregoing information or advise their members of its content. Equally, if any supporter of the TRTG wishes to become more involved with our cause, and could devote one evening every fortnight, then you are cordially invited to contact the committee by writing to mail@twickenhamriver.org.uk.

7 March, 2005

TWICKENHAM RIVERSIDE AND PUBLIC OPEN SPACE

At its first meeting of 2005, the Twickenham Riverside Terrace Group (TRTG) passed a resolution to carry on its campaign to restore the Twickenham Riverside open-air pool site to public open space.

Twickenham residents should be aware that the recently commenced landscape work to 1/4 of the site costing over £750,000 would only stay until 2009. Your present Council has plans to ensure its removal lock, stock, barrel, and climbing frame in June 2009 to make way for an as yet undefined long term development, as advertised on the Council's site hoarding notice.

The Council's future plans are not known. These plans will affect the whole pool site including the usable but closed toilets in Water Lane together with other Council-owned land listed as up for sale in Water Lane & Bell Lane.

The questions that all residents of the Borough would like an answer to, are: what are the long term plans for this site and how can the expenditure of such a large sum of money be justified for such a meager short term benefit?

TRTG therefore give notice that the permanent restoration of public open space in accordance with the Unitary Development Plan Inspector's recommendations for the whole of the pool site is still the campaign objective for the TRTG, and we propose to continue to fight long and hard to restore this open space to the local community.

27 February, 2005

LETTERS TO THE WEBSITE

From Helen Blake, 25 February 2005:

Comments: I support your campaign for retaining the term 'Public open space' and for full adherence to the recommendations made by the UDP Inspector. The site should be used in accordance with the Council's election promises to the community. My written objections will be sent to the Principal Planning Officer LBRUT, etc. in due course. Helen Blake

From Martin Robb, 31 January 2005:

Prefers: public park
Grass: yes
Cafe: yes
Comments: The inclusion of the immediately adjoining properties/shops on Kings street into the scheme seems beneficial.
The block including Iceland - McDonalds is fairly ugly and if money could be freed by re-developing this area and used to pay for the riverside improvements, then I believe it could be a 'win-win' scenario.
It would be nice to be able to view the riverside park and river from Kings street too!