Government Has Same Doubts As Lib Dems

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 6th Oct 2003

The Government Office for London has called-in the Tories' controversial plans for a £500,000 scheme to knock down the existing Twickenham pool buildings and provide a short-term park and play area at the south-western end of the site. There will now be a public inquiry.

Local residents and Liberal Democrat Councillors were concerned that the retaining wall of the new development as seen from the embankment would be more unattractive than the present building and that the scheme could, in practice, become a permanent one. However the majority of the Planning Committee approved the scheme.

Lib Dem Cllr Martin Elengorn said; "The scheme is clearly not conceived as the first step towards a more comprehensive approach to the site. Although it is described as temporary the permission for the ugly retaining wall had no time limit and the pressure of events might have meant it would have been with us for many years. I am glad that the Government Office for London is taking these concerns seriously."

Councillor Denise Carr added; "What the Tories are planning is a quick fix and an ugly one at that. It might actually get in the way of a proper solution and while the Tories dither, the dereliction of this prime riverside site continues apace. This is not what local residents expected and it gives the lie to Tory election promises about civic pride."

Contact Martin Elengorn on 020 8977 1187 or 020 7898 1741