You may have noticed the buzz - the posters, letters and hand-outs for an open to all “barefoot consultation” on the future of Twickenham.
It was the first stage in a consultation process, called by Council Leader, Nick True, to get ideas from the community for what they would like to see in Twickenham.
We were there.
Edward Davies spoke on the “soapbox”. His premise was that the flaws which ultimately led to the failure of the four previous schemes for the site since 1981, were that they were all designed to develop the entire site “in one go” which meant they had to be funded through enabling development (e.g. housing). Consequently, the Friends favour an incremental approach to the development of the site, with no “enabling development”. And he stressed that “housing” is not mandatory under the existing planning rules.
Our stand gave people an idea of what FoTR would like to see on the old swimming pool site and, even more importantly, to gather ideas from locals about what they would like to see in the Twickenham riverside site – see picture below, where FoTR were talking to Councillor Pamela Fleming.
It will take the Council a while to digest all the ideas that were fielded. At the end of the three days, the Council had two notice boards of pinned up ideas – several hundred detailed questionnaires – in addition to the many schemes that were proposed elsewhere in the room.
FoTR also had a box for new ideas that many people would like to add to the community-directed riverside scheme. These include climbing facilities, a ‘boules’ park and a Twickenham Riverside Arts Centre (TRAC). People gave us ideas lifted from other developments, such as Ely Riverside Gardens and Southfields Arts Centre in Bracknell, where they thought community schemes had been successful. They also suggested where we might go for sponsorship to make the schemes feasible and affordable.
If, around West London, films and music are in the blood, then why not try the UK Film Council or Curzon Cinema for the Film Making Room; local musicians Pete Townsend, Ronnie Wood or Mick Jagger for the Music Room etc. and so build up an Arts Centre.
Above all, people who came to talk to FoTR, like us, wanted to move forward quickly on tangible, affordable and incremental projects. Some, such as the arts centre, would be relatively difficult; others, like boules and grass, only need clear ground!
Friends of Twickenham Riverside would like to thank Bruce Lyons at Crusader Travel for the loan of their screen for the exhibition www.crusadertravel.com. 
22-24 July 2010
Letter from Cllr Nick True, Leader of the Council to the residents of Twickenham
Dear Resident,
The Future of Twickenham – Public event 22 – 24 July, Civic Centre Twickenham
I am writing to invite you to attend an important public event which is being held from 22 – 24 July in the Civic Centre in Twickenham. Its purpose is to get ideas, views and participation on the regeneration of our town.
The future of the old open air pool site on Twickenham Riverside has been a contentious issue ever since it was closed in 1981 with successive Council administrations failing to find a long term solution for the site.
In 2015, we will be the focus of international attention when England hosts the Rugby World Cup. Twickenham will be at the centre of the tournament, providing the venue for many of the matches, including the final. This gives us all a real incentive and particular urgency to work together to regenerate our town.
In addition to the Riverside site there are a number of other major projects which must be addressed over the next four years. They include the redevelopment of the Post Office sorting site, planned improvements at Twickenham Station and a planned hotel to be opened at Regal House. These will have considerable impact on the local economy, parking and employment for local people. We have already made clear that the new administration does not want a ‘cluster’ of high rise buildings to dominate the town.
This Council has promised to listen to local people and make decisions that reflect your views and wishes. In the autumn we will be conducting an ‘All in One’ consultation where we will be contacting every household in the borough to find out about people’s priorities for their local areas. We want to find new ways of reaching people and to make your views, not the Council’s views, decisive in deciding Twickenham’s future.
As a forerunner to the ‘All in One’ process the Council is hosting a three day public event, ‘The Barefoot Consultation’, at the Civic Centre in Twickenham. The event will run from 22-24 July and be open from 10am-10pm on Thursday and Friday and 10am-5pm on the Saturday. It is called barefoot because we go into it with no preconceived ideas or any agenda to sell the public a Council approach.We want to provide a platform for community ideas but, above all, we want genuine involvement from as wide a range of our residents as possible.
The event will be attended by leading members and senior officers of the Council. There will be a variety of different opportunities for local people to have their say and set out ideas for the future of the town. The ideas generated will be taken forward to a ‘Twickenham Conference’ due to be held in September / October which will seek to establish the way forward for the regeneration of Twickenham over the next four years.
For this event to be successful we hope as many local people will visit and be involved as possible. You pay for Council services, you should have a say. I do hope you can make time to come. We need to have your ideas and I promise they will count. This is a one-off opportunity to have a new look at Twickenham and help make it a town that we can all be proud of.
For more information about the event, go to: www.richmond.gov.uk/twickenham_barefoot_consultation or call 020 8487 5159
Yours sincerely
Cllr Nicholas True Leader of Richmond Council
5 July 2010
On Monday evening (5th July) members of Friends and other community groups joined Cllr Nicholas True as he unlocked the gates to the newly renovated terrace on the Embankment at the bottom of Water Lane (just beyond the old loos, for those of you who remember that far back!). The area has been cleared of weeds, the hedge has been cut back and benches have been installed so that we can now sit and enjoy the river. This new terrace gives a unique view across the bridge to Eel Pie Island. The gates will remain unlocked.
It may only be a small area but it is evidence of the willingness of the new Council to work with us in restoring the whole swimming pool site to a communal site where people of all ages can find enjoyment.