Did The Leader of Richmond Council Mislead the Teddington Residents on North Lane Car Park?

1.08.10pm GMT Tue 24th Feb 2004

Teddington residents believe the Leader of the Council misled the public about the sale of the North Lane car park at the Teddington and Hampton Wick area consultation meeting in December. He had previously sent a similarly misleading email to a Teddington resident in October.

For last night's Special Council Meeting Councillor David Williams, Lib Dem Councillor put down the following question: Why did Councillor Arbour say in an email to a Teddington resident on 11 October 2003 in regard to the North Lane car park, "As you already know, any change at this car park is subject to the decision of the Inspector after the UDP Inquiry", and why did he repeat this statement in similar terms at the Teddington and Hampton Wick Area Consultation Meeting on 10 December 2003, when tenders were being invited for the sale before the UDP Inspector had reported?

Councillor Arbour wriggled out of answering the question because he insisted on limiting Members' Questions to 30 minutes, although there was only one item other than questions on the agenda. Councillor Williams proposal that all questions be answered was voted down by the Conservative Councillors after a speech by Councillor Arbour.

In his speech supporting the controversial sale Councillor Arbour ignored the complaints that he had misled the public. Even if he doesn't want to explain why he said what he did, he owes an explanation to the Teddington residents.

Councillor David Williams has put down the question again for the 2 March meeting.