STAG BREWERY
Although the Stag Brewery, Mortlake is outside The Richmond Society’s immediate area of interest the impact of its redevelopment on traffic is of concern. The resilience of an already overburdened transport infrastructure will be tested both during the long construction period and once new residents start moving in.
Richmond Council has granted planning consent for the residential-led mixed use scheme on the Lower Richmond Road site. A secondary school for 1,200 pupils from North Richmond, Mortlake and Kew is included, as are a hotel and a “care village”. The number of homes - 633 of which a maximum 138 will be “affordable” - and consequent building heights are likely to mean overdevelopment.
Councillors rejected a plan to reconfigure the traffic layout at Chalkers Corner.
POLICING
Richmond’s nearest police station has moved further afield - temporarily. Twickenham-based police responsible for Richmond have transferred to Teddington for 6 to 9 months while their station is closed for refurbishment. Some officers are being relocated to Kingston.
Chief Superintendent Sally Benatar, Metropolitan Police South West Basic Command Unit Commander, said: "At no point will there be a gap in the ability of the public to gain immediate access to a police station in the local area. Teddington Police Station, which is less than 2 miles away from our current base at Twickenham, will be re-opened as the 24/7 front counter for communities in the local area.”
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
Richmond has a new online messaging link to the local Neighbourhood Watch. It is called Online Watch Link (OWL), which is already operating in many other London boroughs. The Borough Community Safety Partnership, which includes the police and Council, will use it for sending, receiving and sharing information to keep Richmond upon Thames safe. Updates, crime alerts, and fraud prevention tips and other messages will be communicated. Launch is initially through Neighbourhood Watch Coordinators and their members prior to a publicity campaign aimed at all residents across the borough. Sign up to OWL here.
WASTE COLLECTION AND RECYCLING
A new contractor for waste collection and recycling in Richmond has been appointed. Serco will take over from Veolia on Monday 30 March under a 10-year borough-wide contract. New refuse collection vehicles will be introduced starting from the Autumn.
The Council says it has to make significant savings over the next few years and is looking for this major contract to offer improved service delivery, a new fleet, retained weekly collections and greater efficiency at a cost close to existing budget arrangements.
Richmond’s non-recyclable waste is delivered to incinerators that generate electricity for the National Grid. Food waste is processed by anaerobic digestion which produces gas for the National Grid and material used as fertiliser.
BOUNDARIES
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England consultation on draft recommendations for changes to ward boundaries in Richmond upon Thames - reported in issue 3 of this bulletin in November - has been extended to 17 February.
No change is proposed for the number of councillors in the Borough - 54 - or the number of wards - 18. Small changes are proposed for the South Richmond, North Richmond, and Ham, Petersham & Richmond Riverside wards. The Commission’s report on its first review in this Borough for 10 years can be read here. You can have your say on the recommendations here. Alternatively, you can make a submission by emailing reviews@lgbce.org.uk or by writing to: Review Officer (Richmond upon Thames), The Local Government Boundary Commission for England, 1st Floor, Windsor House, 50 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0TL.
LIBRARIES
Richmond libraries have come out on top of all others in London in an annual survey of the number of books issued per 1,000 population. Last year, the Borough’s libraries loaned more than 1 million books to local people and welcomed over 1,374,000 visitors.
EVENTS
Our next event is expected to draw a larger than usual audience so the venue has been changed to Duke Street Church, Richmond. Dramatist, novelist and translator Michael Frayn will be in conversation with Sir Trevor McDonald, journalist, broadcaster and Richmond Society Patron. Doors open at 6:45 pm on Thursday 13 February when refreshments will be available. The event begins at 7:30 pm and is free to our members. As usual, guests are asked to make a £2 donation.
USEFUL LINKS
Be Richmond (The Richmond Business Improvement District)
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Metropolitan Police South Richmond Safer Neighbourhood Team
JOIN
If this has been forwarded to you and you are not a member of The Richmond Society join us and add your voice to that of a growing community of people who love Richmond and are passionate about preserving and enhancing its natural and built environment. Membership gives free admittance to our talks, 4 quarterly newsletters, and access to a network of more than 1,300 people who care about one of the most beautiful parts of London and want to keep it special.
For 20 years our amazingly low rates for membership fees have been held at £5 for a single person or £8 for 2 in the same household. This can be sustained no longer if the Society is to be placed on a sound financial footing for the future. From Thursday 1 October - the start of our next membership year - the annual rates will be £10 and £16, still excellent value and lower than those of many neighbouring societies. Until then, you can join at the current rates.
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