Arbour Had No Time for Richmond Residents

12.18.00pm GMT Thu 20th Mar 2003

At a public meeting at York House on Wedneday 19th March Tony Arbour, Conservative Leader of the Council, tried to address concerns of residents regarding changes to the Borough's UDP.

Faced with an impassioned audience Cllr Arbour spent over two hours trying to address the concerns of Twickenham residents on a large number of issues including the removal of Metropolitan Open Land Status from a number of sites.

This left little time for Richmond residents to discuss vital changes to the UDP including plans to build over Friars Lane Car Park.

Jenny Tonge MP said, "I hosted a meeting on the 7th March regarding changes to the Borough's UDP and informed local residents that they could question Tony Arbour directly about the changes at a meeting on March 19th at York House. "

"I am dismayed at reports from a representative at the meeting that despite Cllr Arbour's claims that he is commited to the consultation progress, only 10 minutes of a meeting that lasted over two hours were given to Richmond residents to question all UDP changes relating to Richmond including the highly controversial plans to sell of parkland on the former Gothic House site. "

"I was also informed that certain subjects were in fact taken completely off the agenda including Friars Lane Car Park, due to a lack of time. Despite this Tony Arbour refused to commit himself to another meeting to discuss these important issues. I very much hope that he will seriously consider setting another date in the near future."