cllr.jcoombs@richmond.gov.uk · · · cllr.bking@richmond.gov.uk · · · cllr.wtreble@richmond.gov.uk · · · Please scroll down the page for full details of roles, biographies, etc..

• [From COMMENTS Winter 2008-9]: TRANSFORMATION for Heathfield Rec: Thanks to Lib Dems on the Council, £3.7 million is being spent on park improvements over the next five years, and Heathfield Recreation Ground is on the list ! Improvement work is underway, and last month saw children from Heathfield Junior school coming down to the Rec for a bulb planting session. The works will see Heathfield Recreation Ground transformed with improvements including tree, hedge and more bulb planting, bird boxes to encourage biodiversity, extra litter bins, benches and the renewal of damaged fencing. A plaque will be placed on one of the new benches to acknowledge the hard work and effort the pupils put into the revamped park. Local Heathfield Councillor John Coombs, said: "The improvement works will make a real difference to local people, in addition to providing opportunities for the junior school pupils to learn about the environment. It is encouraging to see how keen the children are to get involved. "We are fortunate to benefit from lots of open spaces in the borough, and we're rightly very proud of our parks and open spaces." Richmond Borough has more green spaces than any other London borough, and year after year receives one of the highest resident satisfaction levels anywhere in the country.

• HEATHFIELD Library : It looks increasingly likely that the local health service (PCT) will get the finance to build a new health centre on the Heathfield library site. Should the finance be available, then the PCT would have to get planning permission in the normal way. This means that the current library will need a new home. This would either be at Heathfield School in Powder Mill Lane or at a rebuilt Whitton School, if it becomes an Academy. In either case the library would have its own entrance and be run with its own staff and stock as present. Bob, Bill and John would like to know if users, or potential users, have a preference to where the library should be located if a move is necessary.

• MEALS on Wheels: The Council now offers elderly people, who need help, a Self Directed Support plan. The idea is that services are planned around the person, the person is not just fitted into Council services. As part of this it was proposed by a cross-party working group to end the home hot meals service. The savings made will be invested- careers for those that rely on the hot meals service as their "daily call in", assistance for old people with shopping & cooking and providing meals at day centres, there by ending the social isolation that some elderly residents feel. "I understand residents' concerns, but this is actually about providing a tailor made service for our users. The microwavable meals will also be a far better quality," said Cllr Coombs .

• AIRTRACK: . . is a proposal to connect Heathrow with the national rail network to the south and west of the airport. Trains would run from Waterloo to Heathrow airport via Richmond. The plan would be to re-open Hanworth Marshalling yards as a 'garage' for the new rolling stock. Godfrey Way, off the Hanworth Road, would be used as the only road access to the yards. Bob, Bill and John will campaign to ensure that, if this proposal gets the go ahead, the amount of disruption along the Hanworth Road will be kept to the minimum. BAA, Heathrow's owners, are currently carrying out a public consultation.

• AFTER years of campaigning Bryanston Avenue will be consulted on the introduction of yellow lines to operate between 11 am and noon daily. This road is one of the narrowest in the area and with heavy commuter parking, emergency vehicles are unable to access. If residents approve the change, parking may spread to surrounding streets. Residents of the area are asked to contact John, Bill or Bob if any problems result.

• DURING February there will be a couple of consultations about parking. The RFU have funded a consultation to see if some streets would like to be included in the rugby day CPZ. At present the Council funds this CPZ so residents do not have to pay for permits for parking on match days.

• RECYCLING: There have been changes to the recycling scheme. These changes have been introduced after problems with bags blowing away and increased litter after collections. "We are always looking at ways to increase levels of recycling. Richmond Council now recycle over 40% of domestic waste," said Cllr Treble.

[Comments July 2008] • TRANSFORMATION for Whitton School: Whitton Secondary School is one of three schools that has been earmarked for Academy status, as the Liberal Democrat Council try to improve local Secondary Schools. The preferred sponsor chosen for Whitton and Hampton Community College is a Swedish organisation called Kunskapsskolan. Both schools are starting to making good progress, and this change will allow them to develop into outstanding schools. Cllr John Coombs said, "I'm delighted Whitton has been chosen for academy status. Not only will the programme make millions of pounds available to rebuild the school, it will also benefit from the expertise of an academy sponsor who has some of the most valuable and modern skills in the field of education. They believe in tailoring education to the needs of the individual student, so that everyone gets the help they need."

The Council has decided to be a co-sponsor the Academies, so that they can retain a stake in the new school. The school will keep the same admissions policy and stay within the family of Richmond schools. Consulting with parents and local schools Cllr Bob King added, "The next stage is to consult with the schools, local parents, and the nearby primary schools. During the next few weeks, the sponsor will set out its vision for the school in a consultation paper. Local parents will be able to feed into this process and give their views". In the autumn, if the council gives the go-ahead, and government approval is obtained, a full community consultation process will be organised. Improving local schools Cllr Bill Treble added, "When we were elected we promised we would take action to improve our secondary schools across the borough. By bringing Kunskapsskolan to the borough we intend to make Whitton one of the best schools in the borough".

• CHILDREN'S centre for Heathfield The building of the Children's centre in Heathfield, fronting Powder Mill Lane, is nearing completion and the centre should be opened this autumn. Cllr John Coombs said, "Three Children's Centres are being built across the borough using money provided by the Lib Dem Council and the Government. The other children's centres are being built in Ham and Barnes". The Lib Dems Council wants this centre to be an important facility for local children and parents. This area in the past has been neglected by the Conservatives. Cllr Bill Treble added, "The Children's Centre in Powder Mill Lane will have strong outreach facilities to the community centre in Edgar Road, serving the Hounslow Heath estate. We hope this centre will provide the services local families need". It is expected that when properly operating, the services provided will include: Early years provision ; Family support ; Child and family health services ; Parental involvement ; Links with Jobcentre Plus ; Support and outreach services to ; parents/carers and children who have ; been identified as in need of them ; Information and advice to ; parents/carers on a range of subjects ; Support to childminders via a ; coordinated network ; Drop-in sessions and other activities ; for children and parents/carers ; Links with local midwives and health visitors.

• HEATHFIELD Working Together: The newly established Heathfield Working Together Group is made up of local agencies as well as voluntary and community sector and local councillors. The aim of the group is improve the quality of life for residents of the Heathfield ward by creating a voice for local people, advocating on behalf of residents, information sharing, planning joint projects, looking at gaps in services and provision and looking at way of meeting gaps. The group welcomes representatives from community groups or resident associations in the Heathfield ward. If you would like more information about Heathfield Working Together Group please contact Lucy Byrne, Community Development Co-ordinator, Richmond Housing Partnership on 020 8404 5089 or email lucy.byrne@rhp.org.uk or your local councillors.

• WHITTON Business Association has appointed a Town Centre Manager using matched funding from the council. This means that the Council and Whitton Business Association share the funding of the Town Centre Manager. Cllr Bob King said, "The job of the new Town centre manager is to continue to foster good relationships between all the users of the high street and to be pro-active in helping Whitton to improve as a retail centre through a harmonious relationship between the private and public sectors. It is hoped that there would be a consequent improvement of ambience and working in Whitton High Street and the surrounds for the mutual benefit of businesses and people in the community".

• CRANE Park: Bill, Bob and John recently attended a presentation by FORCE (the Friends of the River Crane Environment) about the creation of the Crane Riverside Park. Cllr John Coombs said, "They have been funded by, among others, Richmond and Hounslow Councils and have come up with an exciting proposal to extend and enhance the park area bordering the River Crane to include land up to Hounslow Heath and down to Twickenham Station". Cllr Bill Treble added, "Although a lot of the land is already green space owned by the Councils there are a number of commercial landowners with key river frontages. It will take a change in planning policy and then discussions with these land owners to extend the park in some areas". The nature reserve on Crane Park Island and the open area by the Shot Tower will remain. The Lib Dems will continue to put the environment at the heart of everything it does.

• CRIME and Personal Safety: Your three local Councillors have been working with the local Safer Neighbourhood Police Team to make our streets safer. We live in the safest borough in London, however there are crime hotspots and local issues which need to be dealt with. If there is a crime or personal safety issue you would like to raise with your local councillors then do so using the details below. Cllr Bob King added, "We would also encourage local people to come along to the quarterly public meetings with the Heathfield police team. The public set the priorities for the team and so the more people who attend the better it is for local people". For more information about when these meetings are held please get in touch using the details below.

Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Martin Elengorn, said: "The proposed spending is intended to upgrade the physical environment in these parts of the borough and improve the quality of life of local residents. Tired shopping areas will be revitalised and the general street scene improved. The schemes range from upgrading street furniture and lighting to tree planting and new paving. They will have a significant impact."

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources, Cllr Stephen Knight, commented: "They represent further investment in local shopping parades and provide the opportunity to improve safety and access for disabled people. As with all Council projects of this kind, sustainability is vital. And these schemes will promote greener modes of travel by improving and increasing facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. There will be thorough public consultation to ensure that the views of all sections of the community are taken into account."

FROM COMMENTS Autumn 2007: • NEW Children's Centre for Heathfield: Work has commenced on the construction of a Childrens' Centre on the site of the disused caretaker's house in the grounds of the infant and junior schools. This is one of three to be created in the borough, the other two being in Ham and Barnes. Two of them are funded by the Government and one by the local authority. These Centres are designed to provide flexible services in communities that meet the needs of young children and their families. For parents and carers this can also include help with finding a job and training opportunities The new Centre will be a 'one-stop centre' that will provide: neighbourhood nurseries; out of school clubs; extended schools; and for children with special needs. A complete rebuild of the very popular Heathfield Nursery is included in the project which is expected to be completed by April 2008. In the meantime the nursery will be accommodated in an existing classroom in the Junior school with existing play equipment being fully utilised.

• HEATHFIELD Library: Recent rumours regarding the selling of Heathfield Library site being sold should be firmly discounted. The library site is being looked at by the local NHS Primary Care Trust (PCT) who want to find a location for a new health centre. The PCT want to move the services provided at the present Whitton Clinic, together with local GP and dental services to a centre that would have all these facilities under one roof . The new centre would also treat patients for a variety of complaints currently requiring attendance at hospital. The local Council would not sell this land to the PCT unless it received enough money to provide a new library near to the present one. The Council is working hard with its partners to complete negotiations before the very tight deadlines for the availability of Government money are reached. John, Bob and Bill very much welcome the possibility of a 'One-Stop Primary Care Centre staffed by a wide range of healthcare professionals and are doing what they can to move the scheme along.

• RECENTLY, a representative of London Buses accompanied Bob and John in Hospital Bridge Road and Powder Mill Lane together with an officer from Richmond Council, to examine at first hand the problems that have been raised by residents. The position of Hospital Bridge Road bus stops were examined and discussed. Your ward councillors suggested the re-positioning of one particular bus stop, be made permanent away from front doors of properties. Requests from residents have also been received for additional stops to be provided in Powder Mill Lane with particular reference to residents living a considerable distance away from a stop on the Woodlawn Park estate.

• AT the time of going to press we are still awaiting news on a planning application in Woodlawn Crescent. • John, Bob and Bill are supporting residents who are dismayed at the proposal to pull down a bungalow (pictured) and replace it with a block of four flats and a new bungalow This application follows a spate of overbearing applications in our area, which we have opposed. • Success! So far the planning department has agreed with residents and your local councillors, with a notable success in Heathside, off the Hanworth Road, where the planning committee turned down a similar application. The developers have appealed to central Government and we await the outcome. If the appeal is dismissed it will make it more difficult for developers to get permission for these applications in our area . • Lib Dem Action in Parliament Liberal Democrat MPs have tabled a bill in Parliament to stop developers building in back gardens. It will need the support of Labour or the Tories to become law. Neither party seems to want to support this bill.

• THE Woodlawn Crescent developer has appealed just as the eight week determination expired. John believes the developer realised that the planning department would recommend refusal for the scheme and that a Government appointed Inspector will be more likely to grant. John will make sure the Inspector knows local residents feelings on this application. • Hutchinson 3G have withdrawn their appeal in regards to the proposed telephone mast on the grass verge between Hanworth Road and Harvey Road.

• DOCTORS wanted: When the doctor retires this surgery has planning consent to become a children's nursery. Richmond and Twickenham Primary Care Trust (PCT), who have responsibility for providing doctors and dentists in our area, did not object. They have told John that there are now enough doctors in the area. The team would like to hear from any resident who has experienced any difficulty in registering with a doctor so they can pass this on to the PCT.

• ANOTHER Green Promise Met: Richmond Borough goes even greener from November with the introduction of cardboard and plastic bottle recycling. The new scheme will see rubbish and recycling collected on the same day. In Hampton waste collection day is Thursday.The new scheme means that all plastic bottles including milk cartons and even bottles that contained household cleaning products can be recycled. Your recycling and waste will be collected by different vehicles at different times of the day. At the beginning of the new service we also expect collections to take place up until 5pm. If you think your recycling has been missed please report it at www.richmond.gov.uk/waste_and_recycling online or by phoning 08456 122 660 after 3pm on the day of your collection. Heathfield Cllr John Coombs said : "Recycling cardboard and plastic bottles is vitally important if we are to protect the environment. Central Government is also going to increase charges on landfill waste so it makes good financial as well as environmental sense to recycle more."

• FROM COMMENTS March 2007: the Liberal Democrats will introduce the doorstep collection of plastic bottles and cardboard later this year, whilst retaining the weekly waste collection. Despite scare-mongering and lies by the Tory opposition, doorstep plastic bottle and cardboard recycling will be collected weekly from November as well as keeping the weekly residual waste collection. Prior to implementation there will be a massive education exercise to let residents know how and when their waste will be collected and importantly extra investment in new street collection vehicles which will be purchased later this year. The Tories have been claiming that the Lib Dem council was planning to collect residual household waste fortnightly rather than weekly. This simply isn't true.

Cllr Bob King said "We aim to have the best and greenest waste collection in London. Doorstep collection of plastic bottles and cardboard was a key election promise, which we will be delivering later this year. This will increase the recycling rate here and across the Borough". Cllr Bill Treble added "Recycling all recyclable waste is vitally important to protect our environment. Central government intends to impose increasing charges on waste, especially organic waste going to land fill sites, as land fill space is running out. Boroughs who do not meet recycling targets will be heavily penalised. More charges from central government mean more Council Tax so it makes financial as well as environmental sense for all of us to do all we can". The Council is hoping to encourage more residents to make use of the current food waste collection or for residents to compost their own organic waste. For more information contact one of your local councillors. Organic landfill is being particularly discouraged because it creates methane which is a much more powerful greenhouse gas than CO2.

• THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS have launched a national campaign called "We can cut crime" which is a 5 point plan to tackle crime and help victims of crime. Priorities include putting more police on patrol and making prison work. Local Councillor John Coombs said "We want to hear local people's experiences with crime and their ideas on how to make our community safer". One resident local resident has done so already. A letter was written to local MP Vincent Cable regarding motorists driving the wrong way in Woodlawn Park Estate. They demanded action and the details have been passed to the local Police team. Residents have also reported that Wyndham Crescent is a popular venue at lunchtime for students of the Heathlands School over the border in Hounslow. There is a great deal of litter and the attention of the officers has been drawn to this problem, as it appears that one generates the other! Obviously, it is not possible to prevent youths gathering as long as the law is not being broken but it is hoped that some means will be found to discourage the littering. Cllr Bob King added "The problems of noisy motor scooters and mini-bikes were raised with the officer from the Community Safety Division". Bob will be raising the matter with the Safer Neighbourhood Police Team in an effort to see some action being taken.

• HEATHFIELD SCHOOLS: Plans are progressing well for a Children's centre to be built at Heathfield schools. This is part of the governments push to provide all public services for children under 5 in one place. The Nursery site has been chosen to provide these services for the Whitton area and John and Bill are active with the schools, council officers and the architects in seeing that a suitable and sustainable building is constructed. The government has provided enough money to renovate the current Nursery and provide some new building. It is planned to remove the disused caretakers house on the site to provide more play space for the Nursery children. Cllr John Coombs said "Unfortunately, Richmond did not succeed in obtaining money to rebuild a Primary school in the borough. The Liberal Democrat administration had decided that Heathfield schools would receive this money and the architects had produced some imaginative outline sketches of how these schools could be rebuilt. At least the Council was thinking in a 'joined up way' unlike the government".

• OUR local Primary Care Trust (PCT), a part of the National Health Service, has decided that the best way to improve the services of family doctors in the Whitton area will be to locate them in one place. They are looking at the site on the corner of Percy Road and Hospital Bridge Road, currently occupied by Whitton Community Centre and Heathfield Library, as being the ideal place for this. Bill, Bob and John have met with Council officials to discuss the implications. As the Council owns this land they have made it clear that they only accept the PCT's plans if a new community centre, library and carers centre for Homelink are an integral part of the plans. These plans will only be viable if housing is also included and Bob, Bill and John believe that any plans for the existing clinic on the opposite side of the road should be considered as part of this proposal. Cllr Bill Treble said "It's important that local health needs are considered very carefully and if changes are required it must not be at the expense of losing other community facilities".

• THERE are various traffic problems in Powder Mill Lane according to the time of day. Problems arise when parents collect children from school and again on Sundays when Heathfield Rec. is heavily used for football matches. Additionally there is the problem of the excessively raised speed hump near the entrance to Lyndhurst Avenue, to which Councillors have repeatedly drawn the attention of officers. Sudden heavy downpours earlier in the year caused flash flooding as the drains backed up at its Percy Road end and Officers and Councillors saw a home video of the experience taken by one of the residents, which graphically illustrated the problem. The Councillors are pressing for remedial action as soon as possible to address the situation.

• ON a recent visit to the Hounslow Heath estate with Officers of the Council, the state of the roads and parking areas was pointed out. John, Bob and Bill pressed for a joint project between the Council and Richmond Housing Partnership to repair the roads and parking areas on the estate, (The Council is responsible for the roads and RHP are responsible for the parking areas.) This would enable resources to be shared and save money.

• EMP-TREE STREETS: a tour of the ward by councillors and officers looked at several issues, including that of street trees. In Jubilee Avenue, concerned residents have pointed out to Bob King and John Coombs the lack of trees where some years ago they existed. The matter has been raised with the council and it is hoped that trees will be provided as soon as possible.

Robert John King Liberal Democrat 1900 Elected

John William George Coombs Liberal Democrat 1875 Elected

William Frederick Treble Liberal Democrat 1745 Elected

Hilary Jane Dance The Conservative Party Candidate 870

Gillian Garrow The Conservative Party Candidate 783

Dawn Virginia Hayles The Conservative Party Candidate 776

Christopher Forster British National Party 557

Niki Costas Tanto The Labour Party Candidate 229

Jacqueline Louise Morgan The Labour Party Candidate 218

Simon Douglas Holmes Independent 218

Elizabeth Geraldine Mackenzie The Labour Party Candidate 212