Tory agenda no longer hidden

4.10.00pm GMT Tue 25th Mar 2003

Cllr Arbour declares that there is no "hidden agenda" in the proposed Tory changes to the Unitary Development Plan.

This is true in the sense that the ward councillors who actually read the UDP, the two MPs, Vincent Cable and Jenny Tonge as well as local amenity groups have looked carefully at the small print and discovered what is being proposed by the new administration.

They are proposing a large scale redesignation of many sites to make it easier for them to be built upon and sold. The clear objective is to raise a lot of money for the Council.

The Gothic site in Richmond has always seemed to be part of a pleasant riverside park and Terrace Yard has always seemed ideal for incorporation into Terrace Gardens. The Council would like these sites to be sold to the highest bidder.

Cllr Arbour is also considering the sale of the Friar's Lane car park for housing, even though he acknowledges that there is insufficient parking for the shoppers wishing to use Richmond. No wonder the half an hour's free parking will not be available in Richmond.

In Twickenham, it is clear that without the vigilance of local people, Liberal Democrat councillors and Vincent Cable MP, proposals would now be going through the Council for serious developments at Kneller Gardens, Heathfield playing fields, Mereway allotments and Collis School playing fields.