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Open Letter to the Public and the Council
Twickenham Riverside: a Lost Opportunity
The LBRuT Cabinet is about to take the decision on Tuesday 25 February
to demolish the old baths building that forms an important part of
the popular Twickenham Riverside Terrace Garden Scheme. The TRTG proposals
refurbish the buildings for community use, and open the whole site
for public amenity and river use, with a terrace overlooking the Thames.
The Council's decision in favour of their own Option B proposal will
only open up approximately 1/3 of the site and mean total demolition
of the baths changing rooms.
The Council have not considered implementing part of our proposals
as a first stage use of the site even though the necessary Planning
Permissions are in place and the work could start very soon.
The reason given is that the TRTG scheme is more expensive than the
TRTG estimates because the Council's advisors say so, but there has
been no discussion, or reconciliation of the alleged differences in
costs.
Many serious professional people have spent a lot of time putting
together the TRTG scheme outlined above. It has met widespread acclaim
and has been discussed with the public at packed meetings.
The TRTG scheme, whether short or long term, results in retention
of the ground floor of the existing building which can be of use to
the community and provide revenue. This is an opportunity that should
not be lost.
12 good reasons for adopting the TRTG scheme:
- Flexibility short or long term
- Planning permission obtained
- No delay in implementation
- GOL approval obtained
- Environmental agency approved
- Community accommodation provided
- River related use provided
- Does not prejudice future development of site
- Can accommodate or provide the "public asset" building
or facility envisaged by the Twickenham Challenge
- Provides recreational open space and facilities
- Is environmentally friendly and results in sustainable development
- Promotes improvements on surrounding sites
Committee of the Twickenham Riverside Terrace Group
21 February 2003
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