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In September the Council announced plans to fund huge improvements to the pitches and facilities by selling a small proportion of the site to a developer of a health and fitness centre. Seven expressions of interest have been received, from which four firms are being invited to submit outline proposals for the site. The scheme would improve pitch layouts and drainage, deliver more adult and mini football pitches and brand new changing facilities. Car parking, cricket pavilions and spectator facilities will also be upgraded while floodlighting will not be permitted in order to protect nearby wildlife. Following the relocation of the Richmond and Twickenham Athletics Club to the state-of-the-art facilities at St Mary's University College, the athletics track will be removed. A grass track will be made available to local schools during the spring and summer. The proposals follow extensive consultation with major users of the site in the Barn Elms Consultation Group. This includes sports clubs representing hundreds of users, the Barnes Community Association, The Wildlife and Wetland Trust, ward councillors and members of the public.

Cllr Stephen Knight, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources on Richmond Council, said: "This exciting and much-needed project will bring huge benefits to the public sports facilities in the north of the borough. It will also deliver a first-class health and fitness centre. The proposals have been drawn up after more than two years of public consultation, involving all the main users of the site. Seven organisations expressed an interest and, subject to Cabinet approval, we will ask four of them to develop this into outline proposals for the site. We are conscious that the proposed removal of the athletics track is not universally popular but we intend to replace it with new pitches as demand for them far outweighs usage of the track. Selling a limited part of the site will ensure costs of the redevelopment are kept to a minimum while bringing maximum benefits for site users and the community."

Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Martin Elengorn, said: "The proposed spending is intended to upgrade the physical environment in these parts of the borough and improve the quality of life of local residents. Tired shopping areas will be revitalised and the general street scene improved. The schemes range from upgrading street furniture and lighting to tree planting and new paving. They will have a significant impact."

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources, Cllr Stephen Knight, commented: "They represent further investment in local shopping parades and provide the opportunity to improve safety and access for disabled people. As with all Council projects of this kind, sustainability is vital. And these schemes will promote greener modes of travel by improving and increasing facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. There will be thorough public consultation to ensure that the views of all sections of the community are taken into account."

• From COMMENTS July 2007: Lib Dems invest in local services : After one year the Liberal Democrats are investing millions of pounds in key services for local people. Money from Council Tax reserves is being invested in improving secondary schools, the environment and facilities for young people. Despite already being the lowest spending council in London, the Liberal Democrats have managed to make additional savings of over £4.5m to keep Council Tax down and pay for key service improvements. The increase in Council Tax was only 0.3% above inflation compared to the Tories who in 2003 increased total Council Tax by 15.6% (12.7% above inflation).

Here are some of the things which are being invested in: The introduction of improved recycling services from November 2007 including doorstep cardboard and plastics collections (£750,000). Extra youth services. An extra £250,000 per year. A new sustainability team to reduce the Council's energy use (£100,000). £0.5m on youth club refurbishment. The Lib Dems have also found extra money to meet the growing need for care services for older people and those with learning difficulties (£900,000), the needs of children in care (£400,000) and with special educational needs (£300,000).

The surplus reserves built up by the Conservatives will be invested over the next four years on: £20 million on our secondary school buildings, over and above the £24m already planned for Teddington School. £3.5m on setting up the new recycling service. A new £1 million fund to help tackle climate change A new £1 million fund for new youth facilities. A new £400,000 economic development fund to help local businesses and high streets. In the run up to the local elections last year, the Liberal Democrats promised to invest money in local services. The Liberal Democrats have kept their promises.

• MP demands council tax fair deal: Ministers have sparked anger amongst local residents by cutting Richmond and Kingston's grant from central government, forcing up council tax and threatening local services. Richmond Park MP has hit back with a new campaign for a fair Council Tax deal for Richmond Park constituency, launching it with a debate in the House of Commons in February. Speaking in Parliament Square to a rally of local residents who travelled to Westminster to back the campaign, Susan Kramer said "Richmond is already the worst funded borough in London. This latest cut is an insult to tax payers. Richmond is one of the best value for money boroughs in the country but because of government cuts it has been forced to increase Council Tax." For 2007/2008 Richmond received £126.08 funding per head of the population compared to £499.75 for the average London borough. While Richmond received just £24 m neighbouring Hounslow and Fulham received £110.06 m and Wandsworth a staggering £136.9 m. Councillor Anna Davies said "Please sign our petition against this unfair tax at www.susankramer.org.uk". Council tax was introduced by the Conservatives and has been supported by Labour. The Lib Dems believe it is an unfair tax and should be scrapped.

• TORIES slammed over night flight claims: The Conservatives have found themselves in hot water with anti- Heathrow campaigners after making false accusations against local MP Susan Kramer in their literature. They falsely claimed that Susan voted against lifting a night flight ban in the House of Commons. This was completely untrue. Chair of independent anti-aviation group HACAN, John Stewart, set the record straight in a letter to the local papers (See right). The consultation on Heathrow expansion has been delayed yet again until September. To receive updates and to say "No 2More planes" register at www.susankramer.org.uk

'Both the Richmond MP Susan Kramer, and Vincent Cable, the Twickenham MP, have been accused of voting against a cap on night flights. Not only is this accusation false, but both MPs have been staunch and consistent campaigners against further expansion of Heathrow for many years. HACAN, a non-p arty political organisation, does not get involved in party politics, but is saddened that these accusations have been made. One of the features of the last few years has been the unity that has developed amongst all the political parties in West London, all supporting a ban on night flights, the retention of runway alternation and opposing proposals for a third runway. We need to retain that unity if we are to succeed. Accusations like these do nothing to help our cause. John Stewart Chair HACAN'

• WHITE Hart Lane - Update: Residents have voted resoundingly against the proposed Sainsbury's supermarket in a referendum organised by the White Hart Lane Action Group (WHAG). 4,756 of the 7,721 residents consulted responded to the referendum. 85.5% voted against, 14.5% voted for. The vote is not legally binding but it is hoped that Sainsbury's will listen to the strength of opinion and withdraw from the site. The application for a supermarket was turned down by Richmond Council and opposed by Liberal Democrat MP Susan Kramer, residents and local councillors. But this decision was over-turned by the Secretary of State under planning rules which give more powers to developers than local communities. Sainsburys have written to residents expressing their good will. Cllr Anna Davies said "We hope that Sainsbury's will listen to the views of local people and withdraw. But should they push ahead we will continue to work to minimalise the effect of the supermarket on the local community."

• LOCAL news in brief: Bus from Barnes to Kingston Hospital: Liberal Democrat campaigners and Susan Kramer MP have written to TFL to press for a bus from Barnes to Kingston Hospital. Cllr Eleanor Stanier said "Thank you to everyone who signed the petition to have a direct bus service to Kingston Hospital , linking together Barnes, Queen Mary's Hospital, Asda, Kingston University and Kingston Hospital. It has been given to the Mayor of London."

• SPENDING on cycle routes doubled: Spending on the borough's cycle routes is to double this year under the Lib Dems. Safety improvements have already been approved for the Hammersmith Bridge/Lonsdale Road link and more are in the pipeline. Residents welcomed the news. Under the Conservatives £161,000 of free TFL grant money was left unspent causing uproar among cyclists and environmental groups.

• RECYCLING improvements: Doorstep plastic bottle and cardboard recycling is being introduced in November. The Lib Dems are also currently trialing recycling for small businesses and shops. More than 100 businesses have already signed up to weekly collections of cardboard, paper and mixed glass. Approximately 12% of waste produced nationally comes from commerce compared to 9% for domestic households.

• RICHMOND tops 'value for money' lists: Lib Dem Richmond Council is among the best in the country for providing value for money services for local residents says the latest Audit Commission Report. The January 2007 findings also state that overall satisfaction with the Council is improving under the Lib Dems.

• FEBRUARY 2007: Thanks to action from Cllrs Davies, Mcleod and Stanier, Priests Bridge CCTV will remain in operation despite threats to remove the camera to another location. Cllr Anna Davies said "This is good news for local residents and shopkeepers who have been plagued with anti-social behaviour and even armed crime in recent months. While CCTV is never going to be a silver bullet, at least it should act as a deterrent to some criminals".