cllr.scole@richmond.gov.uk · · · cllr.ljaeger@richmond.gov.uk · · · Please scroll down the page for full details of roles, biographies, etc.. . . supported by local campaigner ARNIE GIBBONS 102A Cole Park Road 0208 744 9269 arnie_gibbons2004@yahoo.co.uk

• COMMUNITY toilet scheme: One of the popular initiatives started by the Liberal Democrats on Richmond Council has been the Community Toilet Scheme. 90 toilets in pubs, cafés, and offices around the borough are now open to the public. The Council pays the venue £600 a year to allow unrestricted access to the toilets. This is very much cheaper, and offers many more toilets, than the traditional public toilets, which are very expensive to maintain. Just look for the Community Toilet sign outside. 4 places in Whitton and Heathfield have joined the scheme: Golden Grill; La Parisienne; Twickenham Cemetery; and Whitton Library.


• The Borough's 90 Community Toilets

• [From Comments Winter 2009-10] New Youth Cafe for WHITTON HIGH STREET: Last year we reported back how this Liberal Democrat Council has delivered on its election pledge and increased spending on the youth services. This has greatly improved what's on offer for young people in Whitton. From being one of the worst- funded youth services in London under the Tories, we now have a service to be proud of, with more than three times as many teenagers taking part in local activities. On top of this, summer 2009 saw several thousand young people take part in the youth capital fund vote. £1 million was allocated by the local Lib Dems to reverse the woeful underfunding of youth facilities. Young people voted on which projects they'd most like to see happen in their part of the borough - in Whitton, a youth café in the High Street. The cafe will have internet access, and support and advice on hand when people want it. Youth related crime has fallen significantly since the increase in youth service funding. Local councillor Liz Jaeger said: 'This will become the hub for youth services in Whitton and a place to relax and listen to music with friends at weekends and after school. I really look forward to the café opening its doors early next year.'

• PEDESTRIAN Crossings: Many people locally will be aware of the long-running efforts to improve the safety of the pedestrian crossing by the station. Finally, £100,000 has been earmarked for converting the zebra crossing to a light- controlled crossing. "We are hopeful this work will happen in 2010/11 and will keep you informed of progress" said Comments team member Arnie Gibbons. Residents continue to be concerned about the safety of crossing Warren Road. Transport for London have so far resisted our attempts to get a crossing but the Comments team will carry on campaigning. Under pressure from Cllr Liz Jaeger, the Council will be doing a new traffic survey to support the case for a new crossing on Warren Road. "It is good news that we have the money earmarked to upgrade the crossing in Whitton town centre. It has been a long fight. We will keep up the pressure to secure a crossing for Warren Road," said local Whitton Councillor, Liz Jaeger

• WHITTON School to become an Academy: An independent consultation on the future of Whitton School has shown encouraging support for the Council's proposal to turn it into an Academy. In answer to the question:- Overall, to what extent are you in favour of the proposed Academy arrangements? -79% were broadly supportive. Cllr Eady, the Cabinet member for Children's Services said "I am very pleased that we have had such strong support for the proposals. There is also support from the staff, governors and parents, so I am confident that the school has a strong mandate for change, and a very exciting future. If the proposals are agreed by the council and the government, then the new school will open in September next year and we will then have access to about £16m for new and refurbished buildings.

• MURRAY PARK is a very valued open space in Whitton, and we continue to press for improvements to the park. "We've had the daffodil planting, and last spring the improved footpath from Whitton Dene. Early next year we shall be seeing a new play space in the park designed particularly to meet the needs of 8-13 year olds" reports Cllr Liz Jaeger. Youth workers, councillors and the local police have already fed in views, and designers will soon be talking to children, parents, community groups and residents' associations. We expect a detailed design to be finalised soon, with work on site starting in the New Year.

• CAR CLUBS: Over 2000 residents have signed up to join the popular car club scheme and there are now more than 70 car club parking bays in the borough. Two car club spaces are planned for the Heathfield side of Whitton in MONTROSE AVENUE and CHEYNE AVENUE, but we need some bays north of the railway line too. Your local councillors are pushing for the car club operators to provide bays for Whitton Ward. If you have suggestions as to where they might best be located, please let us know.

• With the success of Richmond's community toilet scheme, PUBLIC TOILETS have been gradually phased out across the borough. However we have lobbied to keep the block in WHITTON CAR PARK because there are not yet enough community toilet facilities available in the immediate area. Since the decision to keep the toilets open, there has been some excellent work done by the community payback scheme to make the toilets fit for use.

• ROAD CALMING Measures: The 'road calming' measures installed to the western end of NELSON ROAD have reduced average vehicle speeds. A new Council survey shows no vehicles exceeding 45 mph, whereas before the tables went in, over 30 vehicles a day were recorded at speeds above 45 mph, some as high as 55 mph. Almost 90% of cars are now travelling at 30 mph or less.

• Following requests from residents, shopkeepers and your local councillors, several additional cycle stands will be installed in WHITTON HIGH STREET.

From Comments Summer 2009: • MORE Money for Our Schools: The Council is investing heavily in expanding primary schools across the borough to cope with a baby boom. In Whitton, Chase Bridge School will be expanded to take 30 extra pupils a year. This coming September the places will be provided initially as 'bulge' classes. However, following agreement with the local authority to proceed to feasibility and planning, the school will expand permanently to three-form entry from September 2011. Cllr Liz Jaeger said: "The Council has put together a package of £33 million to fund expansion at five schools across the borough, which will provide an additional 150 permanent reception class places. We are determined to ensure that every child will continue to have a place at one of our excellent local schools."

• SEVERAL residents from Kneller, Seaton and Nelson roads were concerned to find that old tyres started appearing in the builders' yard at 8 Nelson Road around Easter time. Following concerted action from councillors and residents, planning enforcement were quickly onto the case and have recommended that the owner return the site to its original use. We shall be keeping an eye on this.

• IMPROVING Road Safety: Residents often ask us as councillors to suggest or progress yellow line restrictions, then perhaps wonder whatever happened with their complaint. Yellow line requests are grouped by area and finally it's Whitton's turn to see a backlog of requests progressed. There are more than a dozen requests being assessed including several in Kneller Road - these include the mini roundabout junction with Nelson Road and Whitton Dene, and the need for yellow hatched markings in front of the wheelchair ramp between Murray Park and Prospect Crescent.

Others include looking into restrictions in the Chase Gardens area to deal with parking problems caused by Harlequin fixtures, and the need for an ambulance bay to be marked out at the entrance to Somerville House. We also hope to see various improvements along Nelson Road, particularly in the vicinity of St. Vincent's Road and Nelson School. People who have been in touch with the Council about yellow lines should soon be hearing whether or not their requests will be progressing towards implementation.

• [From COMMENTS Winter 2008-9]: IMPROVING Youth Services: One of the key promises made by the Liberal Democrats before the last local elections was that we would increase spending on youth services. This has been done, and now there are more things to do, more places to go and more young people getting involved. Whitton now has its own dedicated youth worker, who has been working with young people in Murray Park, Feltham Triangle and the High Street to provide support and access to positive activities. There are also lunchtime outreach sessions at Whitton School to publicise existing services and a successful Whitton Youth Sports night has been held on Thursdays at the school since the summer term. Cllr Liz Jaeger, who has responsibilities for youth provision on the Council, says "With young people increasingly having a say in what they would like to see developed for them in the future, we are addressing the oft heard complaint that there's not enough for the youngsters to do around here."

• FLY Tippers Caught: Good news! Eight people have now been cautioned or prosecuted and fined for fly tipping in the area. Local Lib Dem councillors Liz Jaeger, Keith Warren and Sally Cole were contacted by residents, and the Whitton Network about the problem in library way, and in the car park near the recycling facilities. The Lib Dem team spoke to the council about the CCTV in the car park being used to catch the culprits - and this has now borne fruit! Cllr Sally Cole said "Fly tipping spoils the local environment for everyone, so it's good to see that those who do it are getting caught and punished for it." If you see fly tipping in public places in Whitton, please report it to the council fly tipping hotline on 08456 122 660 so that it can be removed.

• WHITTON Walkabout: Local Cllrs Liz Jaeger and Keith Warren recently took Richmond's Council Leader, Serge Lourie, and the Council's Director of Environment on a walkabout in Whitton to highlight issues affecting the area. They visited the High Street, Murray Park and several locations where there are traffic/safety concerns. Among the issues raised were the Whitton Station zebra crossing, vehicles crossing the public footways in the High Street to park on private forecourts, road sweeping and gully cleaning, and improvements to the park. "Your local Lib Dem team are fighting to make sure Whitton gets its fair share of Council resources," said Cllr Keith Warren.

• TOWN Centre Managers: The Council pays for a number of town centre managers in the borough. They are there to work with, and promote local businesses. Whitton has a new Town Centre Manager who started back in July. Local MP Vince Cable, as well as your local councillors, have all had meetings with the Whitton Town centre manager to discuss is- sues affecting the high street. Vince has also been helping to promote the first ever Whitton calendar - "A Glimpse of Whitton Past". The calendar features pictures of Whitton through the ages, including pictures of Kneller Road in 1910 complete with horse drawn carts.

• BRITANNIA Lane : Britannia Lane, the access road to the Whitton Resource Centre, has been plagued by problems, made worse by the lack of lighting in the lane. Last year, following pressure from local residents in Constance Road and from councillors, a new road nameplate was put up. Now at least people can find it, and importantly ambulances who may need to attend the day centre. Cllrs Liz Jaeger and Sally Cole have also been pushing for the road way to be resurfaced and ideally a pavement put in to make it safer for pedestrians. Liz says "The lighting is good news for both residents and users of the centre. Britannia Lane was an unpleasant place to have to venture into at night. We are hopeful 2009 will see further improvements made in the area."

[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.

Keith Richard Henry Warren Liberal Democrat 1845 Elected

Sarah Elizabeth Cole Liberal Democrat 1842 Elected

Elizabeth Anne Jaeger Liberal Democrat 1774 Elected

Christopher Thomas Bligh The Conservative Party Candidate 1428

Nicholas James Francis Lait The Conservative Party Candidate 1371

Paul Christopher Maynard The Conservative Party Candidate 1306

Neil Roland Browning The Labour Party Candidate 190

Stephen John Guichard The Labour Party Candidate 182

Sampson Edward Dalston Low The Labour Party Candidate 165