• YOUR local Lib Dem team: Cllr David Williams [8 Arlington Road, Petersham TW10 7BY 8940 9421 cllr.dwilliams@richmond.gov.uk] · · · • · · · Cllr Sue Jones [58 Lock Road, Ham 8940 8290 TW10 7LN cllr.sjones@richmond.gov.uk] · · · • · · · Cllr Brian Miller [18 Breamwater Gardens, Ham TW10 7SQ 8255 7390 cllr.bmiller@richmond.gov.uk].

May 2010 Election %s: C 41.5; LD 45.9; L 7.2; G 3.9; I 1.6. LD hold. Please scroll down for details of Sue Jones, Brian Miller and David Williams.

• COMMENTS works! The Lib Dem team are pleased to report some progress since our last Comments leaflet on Teddington Lock. Our last Comments featured the problems of unauthorised houseboats moored in the river near Teddington Lock problem, Sue Jones was contacted by a senior manager at the Environment Agency. He told Sue that the Agency were concerned about the houseboat problems, and had not ignored the problem. Sue has now fixed up a meeting with him, Council officers and the local police. This might just make some progress in keeping the unauthorised houseboats under control, which has been a growing problem for the last two years. It's nice to know that all sorts of important people read Comments, and help us in our campaigns to improve our local community!

• HYDRO electricity at Teddington Lock? Some residents affiliated to the Ham United Group are working on a project to harness water from the Teddington weir to generate low cost clean electricity. Susan Kramer MP has helped them with contacting DEFRA, the Government Ministry. If the scheme goes ahead it will generate enough electricity to run about 500 homes, and avoid producing about 800 tonnes of CO2 every year. Brian, Sue and David are ensuring that Richmond Council is supporting the project. Things are moving quickly and the Environment Agency is now about to ask for tenders for the work. There will be stiff competition from the private sector, but the concept of a local community scheme producing low cost clean energy is very attractive. The results will be known later this year.

• LET down on Richmond Park: Conservatives refuse to back bid to kill off parking charges in Richmond Park for good Conservatives in the House of Lords refused to support a Lib Dem 'fatal motion' that was the only way to stop the Government's legislation. Local MP Susan Kramer said, "It was great to see so many people come to Westminster to make their voices heard. "But I am saddened that the Conservatives refused to join us to stop these charges once and for all. "I want local people to know that I'll keep on fighting tooth and nail to stop these plans."

• KEEP our Countdown displays: London Buses is planning to install some more countdown timers in the borough - but our area is set to lose out. David Williams is taking this up with London Buses, and argued for more local Countdown displays, not less, at a meeting with them earlier this month. David objected to losing six of the seven displays locally, two of which have already disappeared. "We are one of the few places in London without any rail or tube" said David "It is essential that bus passengers are given as much information as possible about the 65 and 371 bus services."

• A SAFER Sandy Lane: The Council is taking action after parents in Lauderdale Drive collected a petition for a safer crossing of Sandy Lane for children travelling to school. A survey of traffic speed and vehicles and pedestrian numbers will be done later this year. David has asked the parents to get both schools to include in their School Travel Plans a safer crossing of Sandy Lane. This will allow the schools to ask Transport for London for a grant toward a better crossing. David has also asked, at the request of the petitioners, for Lauderdale Drive, Ashley Gardens and Arlington Road to be made a 20 mph area.

• [From Comments Winter 2009-10] HAM Lands trees get the chop: Local residents were shocked to discover that Surrey County Council has cut down trees and shrubs from an area in Ham the size of a football pitch. The trees were on Ham Lands on the Thames Young Mariners sail training base which is owned by Surrey County Council. The work was done without consulting Richmond Council or your local councillors. Complaints from residents Councillor Brian Miller said "I have had dozens of angry complaints about this environmental vandalism." "I haven't had satisfactory answers from Conservative-run Surrey County Council." The only good thing that has come from this disaster is that Brian is taking up a suggestion from one of the protesters to set up a 'Friends of Ham Lands' group.

• The end of the Three Pigeons?: WE are disappointed to hear that approval has been granted to turn the restaurant space on the ground floor of the old Three Pigeons pub into flats. Following a fire, and a failed attempt to get permission to demolish the whole building, the owners eventually got planning consent in 2003 for ten flats and a restaurant. Last month the developers told the Council's Planning Committee that it was impossible to let the restaurant. They said the expensive flats above deterred anyone from buying the restaurant. Yet, as David Williams pointed out, this was their design for the building! The Planning Committee reluctantly gave them permission to convert the restaurant space into three flats. So we have lost another bit of Richmond's history. David says, "If the Planning Committee under the Conservatives in 2003 had been a bit more alert they would have insisted on a more usable restaurant space."

• Terrace Gardens: BRIAN Miller took up the concerns earlier this year of residents on Richmond Hill about rowdy behaviour in Terrace Gardens after dark The local police have now asked for the Controlled Drinking Zone and the Designated Dispersal Zone operating in the town centre, to be extended to include Terrace Gardens. Brian says, "It is very important that Terrace Gardens are not misused after dark, especially after all the investment that has improved the gardens so much." The police will now have extra powers to confiscate alcohol when anti-social behaviour is happening or is likely, and also to move people on more easily.

• Roadworks on Petersham Road: RESIDENTS again had to endure disruption to the main road below Star and Garter Hill in October when repairs had to be made to a gas leak. This followed disruption from delayed roadworks by Thames Water and National Grid there throughout this year. David Williams said, "Many local residents complained about the disruption. "Your local councillors and Susan Kramer MP spent hours chasing the contractors to get the works completed." "The Council has also told National Grid in the strongest possible terms that their incompetent organisation and contractors are unacceptable."

• Sudbrook Gardens: ANOTHER planning application has been submitted on the house on the corner of Petersham Road. The latest application keeps the perfectly sound house, but has a new large house in the garden with direct access onto the busy Petersham Road. Sue and David will be opposing this scheme when it comes to the Planning Committee, supported by many local residents. Previous schemes to replace the house with two houses and six flats, and for three large replacement houses have been refused.

• Community toilet scheme in Ham: ONE of the popular initiatives started by the Liberal Democrats on Richmond Council has been the Community Toilet Scheme. After a pilot a few years ago, about a hundred toilets in pubs, cafés, and offices around the borough are now open to the public. The Council pays the pub or café £600 a year to allow unrestricted access to the toilets. This is very much cheaper, and offers many more toilets, than the traditional public toilets, which are very expensive to maintain. In Ham the New Inn, the Hand and Flower, and Ham Clinic have joined the scheme, as have the Roebuck and Hollyhock café in Richmond, in addition to the Buccleuch Gardens toilets. Just look for the Community Toilet sign outside.

• Awards success for Terrace Gardens [28th Dec]

• Ham and Petersham win £100,000 for low carbon zone [30th Oct]

• [From Comments #209 Summer 2009] HAM Street car park will stay free: The Ham Street riverside car park will stay free, thanks to a successful campaign by your local councillors. We were supported by many local residents, whose petitions and letters helped to get the charging proposal dropped. David Williams was able to show that little money would be generated from charging after all the costs of meters and enforcement. Charging also made no sense with free parking at King George's Field and in Ham Street nearby. David also pointed out that there are less than 100 spaces, not 200 as was claimed! Residents in Ham Street and Riverside Drive are relieved that they won't have worse parking problems, and everyone can enjoy the river without worrying about paying for the privilege. Nowhere else in the borough enjoys free car parks, but Ham is different.

• SUCCESS on Ham Parade: After help from David Williams, Wendy's at 432 Richmond Road now has planning permission for this unusual business. She describes it as a ceramic café - as well as selling pottery, you can decorate the unglazed ceramics which are then fired. You can also have a cup of coffee. The Council's planners resist shops changing to some other use on key shopping streets like Ham Parade, but have been more flexible recently when another use can help the overall success of the shops. They were able to give Wendy's planning permission, helped considerably by all the letters of support. Sue Jones helps get permission for opticians to open Sue Jones has also been helping Mr Tanna of Southcroft Chemists to get change of use permission for an opticians in what was half of the pharmacy. Sue is hopeful that this can go ahead soon, particularly as we used to have an opticians across the road in premises which is now a shop!

• TERRACE Gardens re-open: On 9 July the Earl of Wessex reopened the Terrace Gardens after major improvements and renovation. It is 122 years after his great great grandparents, the Duke and Duchess of Teck, opened the original gardens after a huge local campaign to save this open space for the public. Brian Miller said, "The gardens looked fantastic for the royal opening, and credit must go to the Parks Department, the landscape architect, and all the residents on our steering group. "The icing on the cake is that both parks have now got Green Flags, the national award for high quality parks and open spaces." Brian Miller has been closely involved for many months with local residents on the renovations. A million pounds has been spent on the works, as part of Richmond Council's parks improvement programme, on Terrace Gardens and Buccleuch Gardens by the river. The refurbishment work included: complete replanting with low maintenance plants; restoration of the greenhouse, fountain and walls; and relaid paths to have slopes instead of steps.

• TRAFFIC calming on Petersham Road: Concerns about noises caused by vehicles going over the cushions on Petersham Road were discussed at the recent Transport Consultative Group. The following recommendations were accepted: the traffic calming should stay as it had achieved its objectives of significantly reducing speeds and accidents; the speed cushions should be narrowed so that lorries can straddle them thereby reducing the sudden noises; and the possibility of installing speed cameras should be investigated. It was recognised however, that the accident levels and the road layout do not meet the current criteria for cameras Further noise tests should be carried out to measure the effect of sudden loud and irregular sounds rather than just ambient levels. A study of the zone to the south towards Ham Common should be made in the light of high speeds and a recent fatality. Local residents have asked for speed reduction here.

• HAM Street & Back Lane: The improvements in Ham Street near Grey Court School have now been completed. The new zebra, the raised table by the junction with Wiggins Lane, and the better parking spaces have been done. Proposals for Ham Street between Ashburnham Road and Ham Common were postponed after residents raised concerns about some of the options. Back Lane traffic study Sue Jones asked for a new study to be done of traffic in Back Lane, and Ham Street, to see what might be necessary. Ham Street has a lot of parking, although this does slow the through traffic. Some people have suggested a one way system for Ham Street and Back Lane, but this would only increase traffic speeds and could make both roads more dangerous. We will keep residents in both streets informed as the study progresses.

• HAM Green improvements: Sue Jones is pleased to report that the improvements to Ham Green are nearly complete. The footpaths have been resurfaced and new posts and rails have been put round the perimeter, as well as a free "fitness point" opposite Grey Court School. Sue has asked the Council for gaps in the rails for easier access, and a better path to the Ashburnham Road bus stop.

• [From Comments May 2009]: PETERSHAM traffic: Cllr Brian Miller organised a public meeting on May 20 for residents to give their views on the Council's recent review of the 20 mph limit and the traffic calming. As well as looking at vehicle speeds, the Council engineers have measured the noise from the speed humps. The full report is now available on the Council's website at http://tinyurl.com/ltfvw6 ; 80% of residents on and around Petersham Road supported the traffic calming when it was proposed in 2007. However, some Petersham Road residents raised concerns with your local councillors and MP Susan Kramer, particularly about noise from the speed humps. Cllr David Trigg, the Executive member responsible for Traffic was at the meeting and will consider your views before any decision is made.

• A FARM at Grey Court school? Grey Court school has been considering having a small farm on part of the playing fields, and have leafleted neighbours about this. David Williams has suggested that the school might look at moving the proposed building for the animals away from Ham Street and Evelyn Road if the project eventually gets funding and the necessary approvals. Sadly, the Conservatives have claimed credit for the project, although the school governors have still to give the go ahead! The Conservative parliamentary candidate even had the cheek to complain to MP Susan Kramer that the Liberal Democrats were making a political issue of the farm proposal. Susan has pointed out that the only person bringing politics into the discussion was him! If and when the school decides to go ahead we will then take a view. Grey Court is a successful and popular school, particularly since Maggie Bailey arrived. It should not be used as a political football.

• ZAC Goldsmith, the Tory parliamentary candidate, has dropped an enormous clanger. He has claimed in a widely circulated leaflet that, "Petersham Nurseries is to close", but they aren't! Anyone making such a serious mistake would normally get sued for the damage caused to the business. Apparently, Goldsmith is a friend of the owner - so that's all right then! Petersham Nurseries, despite objections from David Williams and local residents, got permission in December 2007 for the restaurant use, but with several conditions. One of these is to produce a plan to reduce the impact of parking on the limited space available locally. As readers of Comments will know, restaurant customers were parking on Council land without permission. Petersham Nurseries has now stopped this, but still provide no parking on site. All this will be discussed soon at the Council's Planning Committee. For further details, please contact David.

• SUE Jones, fresh from her success with the recycling problems at Parkleys flats, is now trying to get Beaufort Court sorted out: Recycling in flats is not always easy, but residents are keen to stop paper and bottles going to landfill. Not only does recycling save money for all of us, but it helps to make Richmond one of the most successful recycling councils in the country. Since 2007 the changes in the refuse collection mean 20% more of our refuse is recycled. So please keep filling your blue and black boxes. If you have any problems, please contact Sue.

• INVESTING in our young people: Susan Kramer, Sue Jones and Brian Miller enjoyed the open day on 5 April at Ham Youth Club, called Ham Hot Soul Day. Since 2006 the Liberal Democrat council has invested money in the youth service, the youth clubs and activities At the same time the Council has brought in Controlled Drinking Zones in Richmond and Twickenham to avoid anti-social behaviour (or worse) at nightime As a result of these initiatives and others Richmond has been since 2007 the safest borough in London, with the lowest crime figures.

• PLANNING Success: David Williams was successful in asking for enforcement action against the ugly roof extension at 34 Sandy Lane, Petersham. David and two neighbours were able to persuade the Planning committee that this oversize extension, without proper planning permission, had to be rebuilt. David wasn't so successful with yet another plan to put an extra storey on Richmond Brewery Stores at the beginning of Petersham Road. A similar application was refused in 2006, but was allowed on appeal by a Government Planning Inspector. The committee unfortunately decided that it was too similar to the previous scheme to justify refusal.