"Twickenham Riverside plans should be scrapped completely," according to campaigners at St Mary's Church Hall meeting

The Regency-era inspired proposal from architect Francis Terry, which includes up to 40 homes and an arcade of shops, has been met with opposition from various community groups and a meeting at St Mary’s Church Hall on April 5.

UPDATE: Revised Francis Terry Twickenham Riverside plans to be published in the summer

The packed meeting included members from Riverside Action Group, Twickenham Alive and Twickenham Riverside Village, as well as councillors from both the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives.

Sue Burningham, of the Riverside Action Group, dismissed the Francis Terry plan entirely and challenged the council to work with community groups and residents to find an alternative.

She said: “They are not consulting, they are asking us to accept a design they have already approved in council.

“The people of the borough don’t want a huge building. They want to be able to see the river from King Street.”

Teresa Read and Berkeley Driscoll, of Twickenham Alive, presented their own concept of a lido.

The lido concept

Mr Driscoll said the group wanted to link the site with the Jubilee Gardens, and include boathouses in order for to create an active frontage that led to the river.

Ms Read said the group had a £3million offer from Bristol Lido to help partner the scheme, and a fully funded proposal had been submitted to the council.

The Richmond and Twickenham Times spoke with Bristol Lido general manager Mark Thwaites, who said the organisation was currently devoting its time, energy and resources to opening a lido in Reading so there were a lot of “ifs and buts” but would not rule out working in Twickenham should proposals be approved.

Henry Harrison with his design

Architect and Eel Pie Island resident Henry Harrison, of Twickenham Riverside Village, presented his plans which he said achieved his aim of extending and preserving the village and included commercial space.

Mr Harrison said: “A lot of the business has been driven out of the borough and a lot of the shops are gone and the sites now residential.

“We want to provide a hub that brings people back to the river.”

Speaking after the meeting Lib Dem leader Gareth Roberts said it was “revealing” that none of the Conservative councillors who attended, including Cllrs Helen Hill, Benedict Dias and Clare Head, took the opportunity to defend the Francis Terry proposal.

Cllr Hill said she was very pleased she had attended the meeting and it was useful to hear the views and opinions of the residents.