• At the May 2006 election three Conservative Councillors were elected in South Richmond ward. However your South Richmond Comments team are eager to hear from you if you have any issues or concerns: rinsaif@blueyonder.co.uk · · · pilkington@email.com · · · Please scroll down the page for full details of roles, biographies, etc..

• RICHMOND Town Centre Update: Liberal Democrats and Transport for London are investing nearly £2m million over two years to improve Richmond town centre making it safer and less congested. The first phase of the scheme has been approved. The improvements include widening pavements, new/relocating pedestrian crossing facilities, revised layout of George Street, improved safety for cyclists and an extension of the 20 mph zone. A massive public consultation exercise was carried out by the Liberal Democrats and an estimated 4,000 people gave their views. As a result the final scheme reflects some of the views and issues which were raised by local people. Andrew Pilkington said "It is fantastic to see that the Liberal Democrats working with Transport for London have achieved this investment for Richmond town centre. We hope that Richmond will be safer and less congested as a result of this massive investment". Saiful Islam added "We will keep residents informed about phase 2 consultation of the investment which includes the area around the train station".

• LIB Dems invest in local services: As well as millions of pounds being invested in local services by the Liberal Democrats, the Council has just topped an Audit Commission list for providing best value for money services for local residents. After 4 years in power the Conservatives had built up massive reserves. The Liberal Democrats are now investing these excess reserves into schools, better recycling services, young people, climate change and an economic fund to help local businesses and high streets. However the Liberal Democrats will continue to fight for a fair settlement when it comes to the Government grant we receives from Council Tax. We are lowest funded in London which is unfair. Susan Kramer, MP for Richmond added "The Conservatives introduced this unfair tax. Richmond residents have been let down by Governments past and present. I will continue to fight so that residents get their fair share". In the local election campaign the Liberal Democrats promised to keep Council Tax increases low and invest surplus reserves into local services. The Liberal Democrats are keeping their promises.

• LIB Dems invest in young people The Liberal Democrats are investing over £500,000 to improve youth clubs as well as setting up a £1 million pound youth fund. Cllr Serge Lourie who attended the Richmond Youth Forum said "We think young people should have a say in how this money is spent". The newly elected Youth Forum set out their priorities which included better youth facilities, better access for disabled young people and tackling crime and improving personal safety. Andrew Pilkington who welcomed the investment being made by the Liberal Democrats said "The Conservatives neglected young people and issues affecting young people. It is really good news that youth clubs across the borough are going to be improved in addition to a specific fund which young people themselves will have control on how it is spent". Member of Parliament Susan Kramer also welcomed the investment and would like to hear from anyone who has ideas on how to improve facilities for young people across Richmond.

• SAVE our Post Office: Susan Kramer MP and local residents are outraged that another local Post Office is under threat of closure. The Crown Post Office is scheduled to close in July with its services relocated to WHSmiths in George Street. Susan Kramer and local campaigners collected hundreds of signatures in one morning from concerned residents who thought that vital services may be lost if the Post Office closes. Local campaigner Saiful Islam said "We have had no guarantee about opening hours or the extent of services which will be offered when the service is relocated in July. Until local residents are reassured about these we will keep fighting to save the local Post Office. We've also heard that the services will be located on the 1st floor - even though there is a lift it is not very helpful for the elderly or people with disabilities". Treating the Post office as a purely commercial organisation totally ignores the public service post offices supply, particularly to the elderly. Many residents signing the petition spoke about their difficulties in Ham, East Twickenham and on Richmond Hill, all already closed. If you would like to add your name to the petition, you can do this by filling in the form overleaf or on-line at www.southrichmondlibdems.org.uk and click on 'Petitions' at the top then click on 'Save Richmond Post Office'.

• TORIES slammed over night flight claims The Conservatives have found themselves in hot water with anti-Heathrow campaigners after making false accusations against local MP Susan Kramer in their literature. They falsely claimed that Susan voted against lifting a night flight ban in the House of Commons. This was completely untrue. Chair of independent anti-aviation group HACAN, John Stewart, set the record straight in a letter to the local papers (See right). The consultation on Heathrow expansion has been delayed yet again until September. To receive updates and to say "No 2More planes" register at www.susankramer.org.uk

'Both the Richmond MP Susan Kramer, and Vincent Cable, the Twickenham MP, have been accused of voting against a cap on night flights. Not only is this accusation false, but both MPs have been staunch and consistent campaigners against further expansion of Heathrow for many years. HACAN, a non-p arty political organisation, does not get involved in party politics, but is saddened that these accusations have been made. One of the features of the last few years has been the unity that has developed amongst all the political parties in West London, all supporting a ban on night flights, the retention of runway alternation and opposing proposals for a third runway. We need to retain that unity if we are to succeed. Accusations like these do nothing to help our cause. John Stewart Chair HACAN'

• WORKING all year round.…: Liberal Democrats work hard all year round to keep local residents informed about what is going on in the area:

Suffield House & Premier House: A second application has been submitted, this time without the top storey. Some local residents are concerned that the development will be overbearing and issues over the noise of the proposed geothermal pumps.

Car Park behind the Odeon Cinema: Susan Kramer has written in support of neighbouring residents the revised scheme which includes a four storey office block.

Quinn's Hotel, Sheen Road: A plan has been submitted to replace the existing rear extension with larger premises.

43 Kings Road: A plan to pull down the existing house and replace it with two three storey houses has been accepted. We are disappointed that this has been given permission. If you have any issues regarding planning either in support or opposition to a planning application then please get in touch with either Saiful or Andrew.

• From Comments February 2007: TRANSFORMING RICHMOND TOWN CENTRE: Richmond Council has negotiated a grant (the highest in London) from Transport for London to make our streets safer and pleasanter places to walk and shop. Of this, £900,000 will be devoted to George Street and Hill Street this year and, hopefully, there will be a further grant to transform The Quadrant and Kew Road next year, when the congestion at Richmond Station will be tackled. A plan has been prepared to improve the safety and appearance of our town centre involving, among other things, the widening of pavements, using high quality stone; the easing of traffic jams; a 20 mph speed limit on all key streets (a move long advocated by the Richmond Society); better sited and more accessible crossings and better facilities for bus stops. As the work to be carried out will be mainly on pavements, there will be no closure of George Street and the minimum of disruption to shoppers.

All this is important to the public and traders alike. The scheme will go out to public consultation from 26 February for four weeks. All the shops and offices in the streets mentioned above will be consulted, a six-page informative leaflet will be sent to all South Richmond residents and there will be two exhibitions, one at the Civic Centre, Twickenham and a second to be set up in a marquee on Bog Island (Lower George Street) from 3 March for a week. Council officers who have worked long and hard to prepare the scheme will be in attendance to hear your views and answer your questions, so we urge everyone to come and see for themselves what is proposed.

• RECYCLING: Strengthened by the endorsement of its public consultation, Richmond Council is pressing ahead to increase the percentage of waste recycled and to add plastic bottles and cardboard to doorstep collections. Currently we have a rate of 33% collected from 52% of householders. Such a low rate will in future cost us, the taxpayers, money because the borough will become subject to the Government's new landfill tax. So under the budget proposals just announced, the Council will this year be spending an additional £750,000 to raise recycling rates and avoid as much landfill tax as possible. As part of its programme, the Council is setting up an education programme to help and encourage residents who do not currently recycle, particularly those living in flats. So if you would like to take part and do not already have the required bins and blue bags, please ring 8487-5171 and you will be given the equipment and advice. Plastic bottles and cardboard will be added to doorstep collection in November (the delay is due to the requirement to tender widely for new vehicles) but meanwhile you can take the bottles to a new bank at the Old Deer Park car park.

• LIB DEMS keep Council Tax down and invest surplus reserves: The Council Budget for 2007/8 entails a Council Tax rise of 4.9%, just 0.7% above inflation (the Retail Price Index increase for the year to January is 4.2%) or £1.06 pence per week. This modest rise compares with a massive 15.6% increase four years ago after the Conservatives won control. £4.5m of savings and efficiencies have been found in order to keep the Council Tax down and to pay for key service improvements, such as:The introduction of improved recycling services including doorstep cardboard and plastics collections (£750,000). Extra youth services (£250,000). A new sustainability team to reduce the Council's energy use (£100,000). The Administration has also found extra money to meet the growing need for care services for older people and those with learning difficulties (£900,000), the needs of children in care (£400,000) and with special educational needs (£300,000). The enormous reserves built up by the Conservatives may only be used for capital projects and one off payments, so cannot have much effect on the budget itself. However, they will be used over the next four years for: £20 million on our secondary school buildings, over and above the £30m planned for Teddington School. A new £1 million fund for new youth facilities. A new £425,000 economic development fund to promote local businesses and high streets.

• LOWER C02 emissions: Hardly had Richmond Council, after consultation, given the go-ahead to its new parking plans, than the European Union announced a ban on all new cars over a certain level of emissions after 2012. It is clear that this is the way things are going. Already nine Councils of all political persuasions have announced their intention to follow Richmond's lead. There has been criticism of the Council's scheme but the Council Leader, Serge Lourie, has urged us to take the larger view, pointing out that if the new charging scheme persuades people to buy cars less damaging to the environment the scheme will have been a success, but there will have been no financial gain to the Council. It is planned that the scheme will be revenue neutral. The argument that the scheme is unfair because some people have a hard standing or live outside a CPZ misses the point, which is we shall all benefit from lower emissions.

• GAS pipe renewal in Rosemont Road: Responding to calls from residents, Saif Islam and the "Comments" team intervened in support of the many residents concerned about the way they were being treated by the gas company, National Grid, and the contractor on the site. In particular, the contractor had clamped a gas meter box on the front of No.1, Rosemont Road and had failed to respond to protests. We wrote to residents and as a result it became clear that this was not the only problem facing residents. We therefore asked for a meeting with National Grid and the contractor. At the meeting we made it clear that in a Conservation Area, where most houses are classified as Buildings of Townscape Merit, the contractor could not play fast and loose with householders and must negotiate with them as to where the meter should be sited. They agreed top do this. In addition, they undertook not to obstruct parking places, to make sure the barriers round the trenches were well lit and to make sure the refuse lorry could access the road. We now understand that National Grid have replaced the contractor and that work has started again with the new company.

• HOLIDAY activities for children?: Refurbishment of parts of the Cambrian Centre off Queens Road is an exciting first step to making it a Children's Information Centre, source of advice and support for the families of children at our local schools. There is a sports pitch, a flourishing term-time youth club (for 6-13 year olds), a friendly gym with professional support, room hire for parties or meetings, and an after school club and many different activity groups use it as their base. The Centre would consider starting holiday activities for children if there is sufficient demand. If your family would like to participate or have ideas for activities, please get in touch with Brenda (8948 3351 or cambriancentre@aol.com).

• ST ELIZABETH'S Primary School: Congratulations to St Elizabeth's Primary School in Queen's Road. The school was recently given an "outstanding" report by Ofsted inspectors, who described the school as "an outstandingly effective school", of which staff, parents and pupils are rightly proud.