cllr.scole@richmond.gov.uk · · · cllr.ljaeger@richmond.gov.uk · · · cllr.kwarren@richmond.gov.uk . . . Please scroll down the page for full details of roles, biographies, etc..

[From COMMENTS Summer 2008]:• LIB Dem Richmond Council has continued its drive to improve school standards by earmarking two schools, Whitton School and Hampton Community College [HCC], for academy status. The academy plan could see significant improvements in standards and a multi million pound investment in new buildings for the schools. The preferred sponsor for the Whitton and HCC schools is Kunskapsskolan, the largest independent provider of schools in Sweden. Sweden has some of the best secondary education in Europe, and the council is bringing that expertise to Richmond. The schools will remain English, but use the most modern personalised learning techniques. The local authority intends to act as a co-sponsor.

Their potential arrival in the borough has been welcomed by local MP Vince Cable, and the Department for Children, Schools and Families. Nationally, the Conservatives have also heavily praised the Swedish model of education "This is good news for local parents. The academy programme will see millions of pounds made available for school refurbishment. Most importantly, local children could get the opportunity to benefit from an organisation who have a track record of delivering first rate education," said Vince Cable MP. A consultation process with the schools, local parents, and nearby primary schools is underway. In the autumn, if the council gives the go-ahead, and government approval is obtained, a full community consultation process will begin.

• WHITTON has a Town Centre Manager again! This is a very welcome development that fulfills a Lib Dem election promise. Whitton's last town centre manager left in early 2006 when her services were terminated by the then Tory Council. Against overwhelming support, the Tories withdrew funding for the Whitton, Twickenham and Richmond managers. The Lib Dems promised to reverse this decision if elected. An early action from the new council was to make matched funding available to town centre associations who wish to employ some- one to support and improve their retail centres. She was appointed by the Whitton Business Association (WBA) and the funding of the post is shared equally by the Council and WBA. Cllr Liz Jaeger said, " I am delighted that Whitton again has someone in place to look after the interests of the users and traders of the High Street. The local councillors all look forward to working with her for the benefit of the businesses, local shops and wider community in Whitton."

• CONCERNS over Cuts in Station Manpower: Local MP Vincent Cable has expressed outrage at South West trains' proposal to cut 58 posts from their station manpower including cuts at Whitton station. The proposal would see customer windows closed for longer periods. Vince Cable has written to SW Trains' Chief Executive to register local residents' concerns. In Whitton, the proposed changes involve the customer windows shutting early on the weekends. "If SW train's Chief Executive thinks that automated vending are working well then he should spend more time at our stations when there are often long queues. The rail company does not make life easy for people who need to get tickets and information about their journey" said Vince.

• SINCE taking over in 2006, the Lib Dem led Council have been committed to ensuring local residents' safety is a top priority. Richmond is now the safest borough in London. In Whitton there is a full complement of 6 Safer Neighbourhood Team Officers (SNT) whose job it is to ensure effective Policing solely in our ward. The SNT will work with local residents according to their particular policing needs at any given time and alter their shift patterns according to local issues as and when they arise. Too add to these measures, Community TV was launched in July. Community TV will be shown around the borough, and broadcast local information, community safety messages, and crime reduction initiatives.

From COMMENTS winter 2007/8: Your Council Introduces Cardboard And Plastic Recycling: Richmond Borough went even greener with the introduction of plastic bottle and cardboard recycling in November The improved scheme sees rubbish and recycling being collected on the same day. The doorstep recycling collection will now include plastic bottles including milk cartons and bottles which contained household cleaning products. Cllr Sally Cole said, " The new scheme has now seen recycling rates top 40%. I know residents have found the teething problems with the scheme frustrating and we are grateful for people's patience. Hopefully these problems have now been ironed out." Cllr Jaeger added "Recycling cardboard and plastic bottles is vitally important if we are to protect the environment. The government are also going to increase charges for landfill so it makes economic sense too."

Lib Dems keep weekly collections: The Liberal Democrats plan to increase recycling services while keeping the weekly collection of rubbish. This is despite many Conservative councils across London and Surrey introducing fortnightly collections. Recycling In Whitton: Whitton's local Lib Dem Councillors fulfilled an election pledge by getting plastic bottle recycling facilities installed at the Whitton Library car-park recycling site. The site now also has facilities for recycling plastic bags. In addition, following concerns about the bins overflowing, Councillors have succeeded in getting extra recycling bins added and the layout rearranged.

• Stop Heathrow Expansion! Vincent Cable MP and West Twickenham Lib Dems are fighting the growing expansion of Heathrow airport. The Government has now launched a consultation on key issues. The consultation will cover a third runway, a sixth terminal and an end to runway alternation which gives residents half a day of peace. If the Government gets its way it could mean a flight every 90 seconds, 365 days a year. Cllr Sally Cole said, "The economic arguments for more flights have been disproved. The Government and BAA are asking too much of local residents when it comes to this proposed expansion. The noise and environmental pollution will be enormous." The Conservative party have just published two policy documents. The first report on competitiveness recommends expansion at Heathrow, and a second report on the Environment refuses to rule out a 3rd runway at Heathrow. Local residents are understandably very worried by the Conservatives' policies. The Lib Dems are the only party to oppose expansion.

• Investing in Whitton's Schools: The Liberal Democrat Council is committed to improving educational facilities in the borough and will be investing the excessive reserves hoarded by the Tories. There will be a substantial investment at Whitton School to enable students to be taught in first class surroundings. Discussions are continuing with the Governing Body to develop an imaginative scheme. Whitton Lib Dem Councillor Keith Warren says "We were very disappointed when Whitton missed out to Teddington for the government money to rebuild, so these plans are very welcome and will make a real difference for local children." And youngsters at Nelson School can look forward to brand new classrooms later this school year. A contract to build new foundation stage classes for the reception year children has recently been awarded. The half million pound building work will significantly improve the learning environment by replacing undersized classrooms, and should be completed by spring 2008.

• Pedestrian Safety Improved: Following concerns raised by local residents and particularly parents at Chase Bridge, the junction between Kneller Road and Warren Road has been made safer for children and their parents walking to school by building out the kerb and realigning the pedestrian refuge. This follows consultation with nearby residents, of which two thirds were in favour. Cllr Sally Cole said "Road safety, particularly near Whitton's primary schools, is one of the single biggest concerns local people have raised with us, so I'm pleased to see these additional measures. Further improvements are being looked into for 2008, including the possibility of moving the bus stops to improve sight lines. We will of course be monitoring how well the new measures work, and would like to hear local residents' views on the matter."

• Plans to Expand Mogden: Residents, particularly to the north east of Whitton, will be aware that Thames Water are planning to expand the Mogden sewage works site in 2008. The intention is to reduce storm sewage discharging into the Thames, but people are concerned about large-scale expansion when work on odour control is yet to be completed. Whitton councillors are monitoring the situation, and earlier in the year Cllr Liz Jaeger arranged with Thames Water to extend their public consultation from just one day to a week, giving residents more opportunity to view the proposals at Whitton Library. Thames Water's planning application is due to be submitted to Hounslow Council in the near future.

FROM Comments Winter 2006/7: After the last Tory Council cut the funding for Town Centre Managers and sacked Whitton's own manager, the new Lib Dem council has fulfilled its election promise and restored the funding. Following discussions including the Whitton Business Association, Whitton's Lib Dem Councillors and council leader Serge Lourie, the new funding has been set up so that towns and organisations like the WBA can bid for the money they need to set up town centre management in the way that most benefits local shops and local people. Whitton Business Association was specifically invited at the November Council meeting to submit its plans. · · · Whitton Lib Dem Cllr Liz Jaeger says "It's good that this is all now moving forward. Town Centre Managers are so important to support unique shopping areas like our High Street, and last year's news of the loss of our manager was a real blow. Hopefully now Whitton can look ahead to having a manager in place who can work to improve the shopping environment and accessibility and boost the use of our local shops."

• RICHMOND'S Lib Dem Council has just approved new safety measures for Nelson Road after it became one of the most dangerous roads in the borough. Since the last Tory council removed the old traffic calming, Nelson Road has become one of the top ten most dangerous roads in the borough, with more than 24 reported accidents since 2002, and many complaints from residents. Following a consultation with local residents which showed a majority in favour of the new scheme, the road will now get raised tables in Nelson Road and at its junctions with Collingwood Close, Whitton Waye and Constance Road. There will also be improvements to the roundabout at the junction of Nelson Road and the High Street. · · · Cllr Sally Cole, who has been campaigning for safer roads in Whitton, says "Concerns about road safety is one of the single biggest issues raised with me by local residents, and many people have contacted me worried about Nelson Road, so I'm really pleased that these proposals have got the go ahead. It's particularly good that they will be raised tables, which cause less noise when vehicles go over them, instead of the old fashioned road humps. Thank you to all the residents that responded to the consultation - all the comments were very helpful."

• WHITTON Councillors Keith Warren and Sally Cole have both been working hard over the last few months on the council's Task Group looking at recycling services, working to bring plastic and cardboard recycling to local people's doorsteps. Cllr Keith Warren says: "This was one of our key promises to local people, and we've been working hard to find the best way to introduce doorstep collection of plastics and cardboard. This will be a major investment by the council, and is an important part of our aim to make Richmond the greenest borough in London. We've been carefully considering all the options, and will report back to you when a decision has been made. Then the new services should be introduced sometime next year."

• FUNDING for Whitton School?: Whitton'S Lib Dem Councillors will continue to push for funding to improve Whitton School's buildings. Cllr Sally Cole says; "We've argued for some time that Whitton is the school most in need of improvements when funding becomes available, and were disappointed when the previous Tory Council gave the last round of funding to Teddington School instead. We'll be campaigning hard to try and make sure that Whitton benefits from the funds earmarked for secondary school improvement."

• TACKLING crime and anti-social behaviour: The Whitton Police Safer Neighbourhood Team is now fully up to strength and has been operating from new premises at Whitton School since September. The team is with us to act on policing priorities identified by the Whitton community. These are discussed at regular Police Liaison Group meetings where the police team meet with members of the public, representatives of community organisations and your councillors. · · · At the moment the team's priorities are graffiti, anti-social behaviour and burglary. To hear more and to feed in your views, come along to the next meeting on 11th January, 7.00 p.m. at the Whitton Resource Centre in Britannia Lane (behind Barclays Bank).

• BAH Humbug! more Tory lies... : Contrary to claims by the Tory's in the local press, Whitton had its Christmas lights as usual! Cllr Liz Jaeger said of the rumours "This was a complete myth. The Christmas lights on the High Street are a lovely part of the seasonal spirit, and a really good way to encourage people to do their shopping in Whitton. The lights went up as usual, supported by £3000 from the council. Congratulations must go to the Whitton Business Association for all their good work organising community facilities like this through the council funding. I hope the Tories will allow themselves to enjoy the Christmas spirit with the rest of us, instead of playing scrooge."