From: Bill Henry
re: Twickenham Riverside Decision 2 March 2002

Dear Sir,
Yvonne Hewett brings herself and the Twickenham Riverside organisation into disrepute in her reply to my letter asking for balanced reporting on the riverside development issue. I consider it offensive that she implies that none of the opinions of those who spoke in favour of the scheme was valid because they had all (but one) in some way been bought out by the council or Dawnay Day. I leave it to the individuals concerned to respond to her slurs.

I know it is an awkward fact for the opponents of the Dawnay Day development but there are a great many Twickenham residents who, like myself, favour the Dawnay Day development as the best option for Twickenham. Just in case you are wondering about my impartiality:

I didn't know who Dawnay Day were till about 1 month ago.
I have only ever voted Lib Dem tactically.

My only connection with the council is that I organised last year's Twickenham graffiti cleanup campaign which was supported by the council and now continue to work, with the support of the council, to keep Twickenham as graffiti free as possible.
I entered this debate a few weeks ago because I was becoming increasingly aware that the vocal opponents of the scheme were claiming to represent the majority of Twickenham residents. I do not believe this to be the case. Of course there were more speakers on the opposition side - what else would you expect at a planning consent meeting such as this. This says nothing about the opinion of the great majority of Twickenham residents who weren't at the meeting.

Yours sincerely

Bill Henry