Richmond Council and its partners in Arcadia in the City - Thames Landscape Strategy, The National Trust, English Heritage, Environment Agency - have already secured a development grant of £218,000 and submitted a detailed application in the summer to secure £1.8m towards works of a total value of £3m.

These are planned for Cholmondley Walk, Richmond Promenade, Richmond Hill, Terrace Field and Buccleugh Gardens in Richmond; St Margaret’s Riverside; Twickenham Embankment and Riverside; Cambridge Gardens; Marble Hill river walk and Orleans Park; Radnor Gardens; and Ham Avenues and Towpath.

However the Heritage Lottery Fund is now asking the council to underwrite any shortfall in funding for the first two years' schemes, which could open the council to having to find some £720,000 in all from trusts, sponsors and local people.

But raising funds is itself a costly business, and in a report to Cabinet on Tuesday 7 December, the council states: "A related matter is the cost of the fundraisers who are currently following up the initial contacts and trust applications. The intention is that these costs (fixed at £95,000) will be met from income generated but the Council has previously agreed to underwrite these in the event of the scheme not proceeding."

All being well, the programme is for projects to start in spring 2005 and continue to the end of 2007.

Read in full the report on London's Arcadia

See also the Thames Landscape Strategy Website

Sunday, December 5, 2004

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