Twickenham Riverside will be developed by award-winning architects Quinlan and Francis Terry, despite almost 2,000 people signing a petition calling for a lido on the site.

The world famous architect firm which designed Richmond Riverside in the mid-1980s, has been awarded the contract to create a new link to the riverside at Water Lane, off Kings Street.

But Twickenham Alive, which had its campaingn to restore a lido complex on the riverside rejected, believes a swimming pool can still form part of the plans.

Campaigner Teresa Read said: "The lido and restaurant complex was chosen as it could fit on the Twickenham Riverside site leaving plenty of space for other requirements.

"We are sure that Quinlan Terry could come up with an imaginative way of implementing our idea for a lido in keeping with his design.

"The lido is clearly a popular community option in Twickenham and the lido restaurant is based on one in Bristol which is one of the top 100 restaurants in the UK."

Twickenham Alive met with Richond Council leader Lord True, cabinet member for environment Councillor Pamela Fleming and two senior council officers this week.

Ms Read added: "There is a company willing to invest a substantial amount in Twickenham and build a lido-restaurant complex.

"This will save the council paying for the cost of a restaurant, café, community toilets, which are part of the council's brief for the site.

"Considering that the council may have spent £5m on the site so far we believe any saving will be worthwhile."

More than 1,800 people have now signed the petition to bring back a lido to the riverside, close to the site of the former pool, which is now Diamond Jubilee Gardens.

The council purchased three properties in King Street and Water Lane, including the Santander, Superdrug and M&Co, last year with the intention of opening up the riverside to the town.

Plans will be made public in the autumn, after the Rugby World Cup, when residents will be consulted.

Lynda Pearce, who signed the petition, said: "I remember the pool in Twickenham as a child. I think it would help revive the area. It would be good to put something back since we lost the cinema, pool and ice rink."

Jessica May wrote: "A lido would be a fantastic addition to the Twickenham community and compliment the riverside developments."

Lord True said the council has high ambitions for Twickenham after "so many years of neglect".

He said: "We are grateful to all those who put forward ideas, most of them of high architectural quality.

"Quinlan and Francis Terry’s approach to the challenge was particularly creative.

"When they bring forward their ideas for public consultation in the autumn, there will be room for adjustment, but I hope that all in Twickenham will approach that opportunity in a constructive way.

"It is all too easy to block things, all too hard to create."

Francis Terry, from Quinlan and Francis Terry, said the architects were "absolutely thrilled" to be chosen to develop the riverside.

When does an outdoor swimming pool become a lido? (and how IS it pronounced?)

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

A lido used to exist on the site of what is now the Diamond Jubilee Gardens in Twickenham

When is a lido a lido? What sets it apart from the humble open air swimming pool? These are the questions on Twickenham's lips so the RTT spoke to Twickenham Alive's Teresa Read to find out.

She said: "Lidos and swimming pools are, of course, very similar but then there is a particular type of lido, which is what we are looking at.

"One reason we decided to choose this project is it is a courtyard style design so it is not enormous but big enough and all around it is changing rooms, steam rooms and is sort of all-enclosed.

"It's not a big pool like Hampton Pool where you might be able to get a couple of snacks on the site - it is completely different."

She added that the Bristol Lido, the model plans for the Twickenham Lido have been based on, includes a restaurant included in a top 100 list and the same chef would provide the Twickenham menu.

Now that is decided, the next big question to follow is just how is lido pronounced?

According to the Cambridge Dictionary website, in both British English and American English, it should be pronounced "lee-doh".

So if you thought it was pronounced "lie-doh", think again.