April 2003


ISLAND FIRE
A serious fire on Garrick's Ait, midstream of the Thames between Hampton and Molesey, has destroyed three of the island's homes.


ROLLING STONES IN TOWN
Richmond Council has given permission for two Stones concerts at the RFU this summer, on 23 and 24 August.


HIGH HOPES IN HAMPTON
Crime figures in Hampton have dropped by more than 50% in the past month, Chief Superintendent Richard Gargini told a public meeting.


CONCORDE TO BE RETIRED
 British Airways announces that Concorde will be gone from the skies "by the end of the year".

POLICING
Do you want to help?


RIVER WALK
Deborah Duval sets off on Saturday 17 May on a 117 mile sponsored nine-day walk along the Thames Path from Oxford to Westminster - but she's no ordinary walker.


COUNCIL'S EDUCATION BID FAILS
Richmond Council's hopes for a £60m private finance initiative for secondary schools have been dashed by David Miliband, Minister for Schools.

DRIVING SKILLS
Many people are apprehensive about driving on motorways, but you can improve your confidence with the South London Group of Advanced Motorists.


TERRORISM DIVERTS POLICE
MP Vincent Cable is concerned that Hampton may find its resources depleted if police are put on anti-terrorist duties in Central London.


RICHMOND'S NEW MAYOR
Councillor Nicola Urquhart, Cabinet Member for Environment & Planning, is to be the new Mayor for Richmond upon Thames.


PARKING FINES GO UP
Parking fines go up to £80, or £100 in Twickenham on events days, from 1 April 2003


THAMES WATER FINED
Thames Water Utilities Ltd paid almost £13,000 in fines and costs for polluting the Whitton Brook near Mogden Sewage Works - for the second time in three years.


TO THE RIVER
Enjoy a peaceful Thames cruise along reaches through Richmond, whenever you want to.


CAN'T FIND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR?
See the story in our
Back Issues.


ST MARY'S LODGE AT RISK
Hampton residents should be aware that another venerable local institution is under threat, writes Bill Weisblatt, chairman of the Hampton Society.


A VIEW FROM THE ROOF
A special tour of Hampton Court Palace took Richmond's Mayor, behind the scenes.

A SECOND POLICE MEETING
Because so many people turned up to the recent police meeting at the White House, Hampton, there is to be a second meeting, on Sunday 13 April.

HAMPTON SOCIETY AGM The Hampton Society is holding its AGM at 8.00 pm on Tuesday 1 April at St Mary's Parish Hall, Church Street, Hampton.

TEDDINGTON SOCIETY AGM
The Teddington Society is holding its AGM at 7.30pm on Thursday 10 April at St Mary by St Alban Church Hall, Langham Road.

 

 

 

 


NEW PR CHIEF IN RICHMOND?
The council is looking for a new communications officer, and a prospective candidate has emerged.



OUTRAGE IN HAMPTON
Residents in Hampton are outraged by the Council's failure to deliver important components of the long-awaited calming scheme for Thames Street.


TALK TO YOUR COUNCILLOR
Tony Arbour, GLA member and leader of Richmond Council, holds his drop-in surgery at Churchill House, 3 Stanley Road, Teddington from 5-6.30pm on Friday 25 April.

FORMAL PROPOSAL FOR OLD BATHS
Richmond Council has submitted the application for its short term proposals to demolish the old swimming pool site in Twickekenham for a park.

POLITICAL FALLOUT
Richmond's majority party councillors have rubber-stamped a decision to send communications unit staff for retraining with a "Tory spin-doctor".


UDP CHANGES AGREED
Despite protestors at York House, Richmond Council agreed controversial modifications to open land in the UDP with some amendments.


NO NEW BUILDING FOR FILTER BEDS
A planning inspector has dismissed Thames Water's bid to build 60 flats by the Thames at Seething Wells old filter beds, opposite Home Park.


SAVE OUR POST OFFICES
MP Vincent Cable delivered a nationwide petition to 10 Downing Street to alert the PM to widespread unease at closures of suburban post offices.


TREES FOR THE STREETS
More than 400 replacement trees will be planted on the borough's streets this spring, following a winter survey of pavements by Richmond Council.


WEEKEND NOISE PATROL
Richmond Council is reviving its weekend noise patrol to respond to complaints about late night disturbance.


BATHS SITE SCHEMES
Fresh thinking has come from the community, with five imaginative schemes accepted for the old baths site on the riverside through the Twickenham Challenge.

CASH BOOST FOR PLANNING
Richmond Council will make planning applications accessible online with a government grant awarded in recognition of its improving performance.


FEELINGS RUN HIGH IN HAMPTON
So many people flocked to the meeting on crime and policing in Hampton, the hall in the White House couldn't contain them all.

TEDDINGTON
TRANSPORT AND PARKING REPORT
Teddington Parking sub-Committee suggests three options for parking in the town and green transport policies for business.


HAMPTON'S VILLAS AT RISK
Mansard Country Homes Ltd has taken its proposals to build 12 flats on the site of two turn-of-the-century villas to appeal.

And a second and similar application for the corner site on Hollybush Lane has now been sumbitted to Richmond Council, raising further objections.

UDP DEBATE RICHMOND
There will be a public meeting on controversial changes to Richmond's Unitary Development Plan at Meadows Hall, Richmond, on Friday 7 March.

UDP DEBATE CONTINUES
Tony Arbour, Leader of Richmond Council, will attend an open meeting on controversial changes to land use and open spaces in the borough.

UDP CHANGES GET THE NOD
A five hour meeting of Richmond's Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee resulted in no change to controversial de-designations of open areas from protected status.

UDP PRE-INQUIRY MEETING
There will be a pre-inquiry meeting on Richmond Council's controversial modifications to the Unitary Development Plan on Wednesday 9 April.

 

 

 


GARDEN CHARGES
Hampton Court Palace's new Director, Rod Giddings, is seeking the views of visitors and local people on the option for charging for entry to the gardens.


ROAD SCHEME FUNDING COULD SUFFER
Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, is warning boroughs that grants could be docked if they don't comply with Transport for London's integrated policies.


NO MORE NEEDLEWORK IN HAMPTON
A best value review of the centres used by Richmond Adult Community College is likely to mean the end of Hampton School of Needlework in Hampton.

OVER 10,000 OBJECTIONS
At a pre-inquiry meeting for Richmond's Unitary Development Plan it was revealed that 2,596 objectors had raised 10,589 objections to the council's modifications.


FERRY CROSS THE THAMES
Hampton Ferry is open for business for Summer 2003.


HIGHER CONGESTION CHARGES
An interesting case on the benefits air traffic congestion charges could bring to Richmond residents' quality of life is put forward by London's Greens.


ASK THE EXPERTS
Richmond's Mayor, Cllr Douglas Orchard, is hosting a Gardeners' Forum at York House on 24 April.


LOBBY FOR QUIET NIGHTS
Hacan ClearSkies wants to hear from all local people willing to lobby parliament in support of no more night flights at Heathrow.


ALL CHANGE AT HAMPTON SOCIETY
After six years of service as chairman of the Hampton Society, Bill Weisblatt handed the baton on to Rosemary Hill at a well-attended annual general meeting.

THE NEWS FROM WESTMINSTER
Cllr. Stephen Knight for the Lib Dem opposition has formally opposed Richmond Cabinet's recommendation to send its communications unit for retraining with Westminster City Council.

RETIRED OFFICERS WOULD WORK
Thousands of retired police officers in their early fifties, with valuable experience, would welcome the chance to work again, says MP Vincent Cable.


BEWARE BOGUS CALLS
Local police are alerting women and householders to beware of two telephone scams, which could cost them dear.

OPERATION FOOTBRAKE
Local police are launching an anti-vehicle crime initiative across the borough on 1 April in a bid to reduce crime figures by 25 % over the next financial year.


QUESTIONS,
QUESTIONS,
QUESTIONS
Councillor Tony Arbour, leader of Richmond Council, and senior council officers, faced questions from local people at a public meeting on changes to Richmond's UDP.


POLICING - THE NEW VISION
Sir John Stevens, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, announces a New Vision for London Policing, and unprecedented expansion of the force.

NEW CHIEF FOR PALACES
A new chief executive for the Historic Royal Palaces, which includes Hampton Court, has been appointed.

HIGH ST. CHEMISTS REPRIEVED
A government decision to back-track on proposals to deregulate pharmacies is welcomed by Richmond Council.


ST GEORGE'S DAY PARADE
A grand parade of marching bands, uniformed organisations and floats will take to the streets of Whitton and Twickenham for the Mayor's Charities this Easter.

 

 

 

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