On Friday 24th April about 200 people gathered on Twickenham Riverside to protest against the Richmond Council plan to put houses and offices on Twickenham Riverside.
Long-standing residents will know the troubled history of this site. Many will have longed for “something to be done” about it. Well, the trouble is, the “something” that Richmond Council has come up with is the worst of all worlds, and mean this crucial piece of public land will be lost to the public for the next 100 years or more.
In a recent consultation, a clear majority were against the Council’s plans. But the Council is disregarding the consultation findings. They propose to go ahead with the scheme, and say those opposed to the scheme are a “politically motivated” minority.
Take a look at the people in the photographs. Do they look like a politically motivated minority to you?
No, I thought not.
It takes a lot to provoke the rather peaceful residents of this Borough into direct action. But yesterday they demonstrated. The demonstration was good-natured, and good mannered. But there is a deep anger at what the Council is intending.
The rationale for covering the Riverside in luxury housing is to fund the development of a £3 million office building, which will be used as an Environment Centre.
Many people are deeply sceptical about the commercial viability of such a centre. Riversniffers has spoken to a lot of people. Not one person we have spoken to has seen the need for it. Most are at a loss as to its purpose.
Sorry, Trevor - this scheme is not just a wind-up. They mean to do it
Many point out that the Environment Trust that wants to put the centre in Twickenham has been offered alternative premises on Eel Pie Island. Many people also feel that the scheme may just be a Trojan horse for the eventual takeover of the office building as luxury riverside offices for the Council “nomenklatura”
Despite what people think, the Council is determined to push ahead. The next action will be taken at a Cabinet meeting at York House on Monday 27th April at 7pm. The purpose of the meeting is to approve the choice of a developer to carry out the scheme, and to authorise the sale of the land.
- We’re going ahead anyway…
The public are entitled to attend the meeting. You may wish to attend yourself, and witness the final act in this deeply misguided exercise. You can at least say you were there when the people of Twickenham lost this crucial public amenity for ever.
The purpose of the development on part of the site is to fund the River Centre to to be built by the river, which will offer:
‘• A centre for education about the river and broader environment, climate change and sustainability for people of all ages and abilities, provided by Richmond Environment Network, Thames Explorer Trust, River Thames Boat Project, Richmond’s Biodiversity Action Plan, Thames Landscape Strategy, and other organisations.
• A ‘one-stop shop’ offering practical information and news about the River Thames, sustainability and climate change, along with exhibits by the Thames Landscape Strategy and organisations with responsibility for the Thames, and displays giving information on local water-based activities and clubs.
• A hub for environmental volunteering, a home for the Environment Trust, BTCV Richmond and Richmond Environment Network, a base for other environmental voluntary organisations, giving them access to mentoring, advice and equipment, and a centre for volunteer training.
• A home for HANDS (Help a Neighbour in Distress), a charity providing the elderly and housebound with support and opportunities for social interaction, and Richmond Volunteer Centre, matching individuals willing to give their time with organisations looking for support.
• Multipurpose spaces for the activities of all of the above and for many other local organisations, such as Twickenham Rowing Club, and events, such as the Twickenham Festival, as well as a children’s playground, public toilets and a café open to everybody.
• Permanent displays about Twickenham’s river heritage, linking it to river-based sites in the upper Thames, such as the Henley River & Rowing Museum, and the lower Thames, such as the Docklands Museum.
• A boathouse, providing public boat hire, maintenance and repair, practical boatbuilding courses, water safety training, rowing for the young and those with disabilities, work experience for young people, and small boat storage, with a waterfront pontoon to improve access to Twickenham from the river, encourage river use and enable a ferry service linking with Richmond and Teddington.
• All in a flagship sustainable building, showcasing ‘green’ construction methods and wider sustainability.’
See: http://www.rivercentre.org.uk
and
http://www.rivercentre.org.uk/etrut_spring_2009.pdf
It will open in the summer of 2011.
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