from: Trevor Clarke
re: Pros and Cons of Twickenham Schemes 20 March 2002

Dear Editor,

I can understand the arguments for and against both schemes for Twickenham Riverside - the Dawnay Day development and the Ken Hathaway open landscape plan.

Public amenities are a good thing in principle but I can see the reservations about whether we're really getting a good deal here, particularly as answers given seem to be vague rather than specific commitments. That arouses suspicions of a glossy appearance now but a disappointing end result of little public benefit. The development does appear to be primarily residential with a few sops to the public thrown in to justify it, rather than the former only there to pay for a fully justified and wanted public amenity.

With the open landscape scheme, the argument of vandalism, and other anti-social activities at night time, has a point. Effective policing, good lighting and CCTV cameras should help to prevent that. It seems to lack a tourist attraction element that could generate more revenue for the Twickenham area. A jetty for the boat trips to stop at would be a good thing but it could do with a much better catering attraction. The visitors would help in revitalising the local economy, the argument used in favour of the
Dawnay Day development.

What is much more questionable is the process that led to the planning application being granted, with only the Dawnay Day being considered and not the open landscape proposal. Plus the fact that the ruling Lib Dem administration has voted and approved its own scheme for primarily publicly owned land. It's the lack of transparency, independence, true democracy and the manipulation to ensure the result wanted by the ruling Lib Dem administration, which irks so many people. There is much talk about a large 'silent majority' in favour of the Dawnay Day development. Harder evidence should be shown of what that actually amounts to compared with the numbers declared against. A fairer decision making process would gain a wider acceptance of whatever is decided.

Regards,

Trevor Clarke

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