As you probably have heard by now the Conservatives have taken over control of the Council. The Conservatives promised to scrap the Countryside scheme and give the land in Trust for perpetuity.
It therefore appears that SOR has succeeded in its immediate purpose. It has been two years of hard slog. We have been greatly buoyed up by the tremendous support we have received, help with leaflets and on the street stall, gifts of money to help print leaflets (I think we distributed about 23,000) and to fund the referendum, coming to our rallies, etc etc. To everyone - thank you.
In due course, SOR will disband, and our next business - helping to decide, with the Council, what will happen to the Riverside site - goes into the hands of our sister organization Friends of Twickenham Riverside. This has been an extraordinary experience!
With all good wishes, Jeremy.
Statement from Cllr Nicholas Ture
Richmond Council’s Leader Elect has confirmed his intention to scrap the development the previous Council had planned with Essex-based property developer Countryside Properties and to bin plans to build private houses and a multi-million pound ‘river centre’ on Twickenham Riverside.
Talking about the decision Cllr Nicholas True, Leader Elect of Richmond Council said:
“The proposed development of the pool site on Twickenham Riverside was rejected in a referendum funded by local people, by 93.5% of residents taking part. It is now clear that the majority of local people were and remain absolutely opposed to the previous council’s plans.
“For this reason, if elected Leader by the Council on 25 May I will as my very first step, as soon as I leave the Council Chamber, send notice to Countryside Properties of my intention not to proceed with the unpopular proposed development of the site, which would have given so much of the land over to private housing
“It is now for the community, not the Council alone, to rise to the challenge of determining the future of what is public land on Riverside. I want this site to be a demonstration of what a community can achieve when it comes together – and no longer the symbol of division in our community that it has been for far too long. The Council and its officers will be fully engaged partners in this process in which I will invite all interested parties to join.
“Once a community solution has been agreed by local people, we will, as I have pledged, hand the land over to the people of Twickenham in trust for all time so that never again can a future council put a People’s Riverside up for sale.
“We will achieve far more by listening to local people and working with them than if we chose to work against them. Meaningful consultation will be the byword for the incoming administration.”
