A new consultation process for Twickenham Riverside design proposals has been labelled “smoke and mirrors” by campaigners who believe only minor tweaks will be made to the Francis Terry proposals.

UPDATE: Twickenham Riverside architect Francis Terry splits from Quinlan Francis Terry practice he ran with his father

Richmond Council ran a consultation last year over plans for the architect’s Regency-era inspired designs, which were met with opposition from various community groups and residents.

From March: Which of the Twickenham Riverside proposals do you think should be chosen?

It is thought about 2,300 people visited the pop-up shop and 700 gave feedback online.

The architects have developed the proposals to incorporate suggestions including the need for a single open space and the requirement for a wider Water Lane that increases visibility of the river.

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

Architect Henry Harrison with his own design

Architect Henry Harrison, of the Riverside Village group, said widening Water Lane would mean destroying a valuable part of the historic village for no material gain.

He said: “Visual widening of the view to the river can be accomplished by providing a wide pedestrian access alongside Water Lane.

“This is the logical solution to creating a visual invitation to the riverside.”

Other changes to the original design Francis Terry are considering will be simplifying the architecture in King Street and changing materials to match nearby buildings, identifying more parking spaces and potentially reducing building height.

The new consultation with the updated designs will begin in a pop-up shop on July 19, but campaigners from the Riverside Action Group (RAG) have dismissed the process and said the council will “plough ahead” with the designs after making only minor tweaks.

Richmond and Twickenham Times: Twickenham Riverside the New Kneller Hall

The winning design from Francis Terry 

Colin Heath, of RAG, said: “Originally they chose four classical architects then a select group of councillors decided.”

The group’s chairman, Susan Burningham, added: “The public had no consultation over the choice of architect.

“They did not ask the public at the time; they didn’t say these are the designs we had submitted, and ask what people thought of them.

“It was only because various groups asked to see the brief and the designs that they ever released them.”

The alternative riverside proposals submitted to Richmond Council in 2015, including designs from John Simpson Architects, Atkins and Kemp Muir Wealleans, were released to the public in March.

Other schemes were also developed, including a lido concept from the Twickenham Alive Group, and designs from Eel Pie Island architects including Mr Harrison.

RAG does not support one scheme over another but describes it objective as to “find out what people of all ages and backgrounds want from their riverside, and to distil these ideas into one coherent brief.”

Ms Burningham has previously called for the Francis Terry design to be scrapped altogether.

Another member of the group, Mark Brownrigg, said: “We are really not prescriptive but what we do know is we have got the river, it is a working river.

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

Mark Brownrigg OBE, Susan Burningham and Colin Heath, of RAG

“We have three high streets attached to Twickenham and no town centre at all.

“If you want to create a heart and a grand town centre in Twickenham this is an ideal place to do it.

“If there is anything to bring people into the centre of Twickenham it is that combining of the arts, the music, the river and it is a great opportunity that we are all in danger of losing.

“If you take the current design [from Francis Terry] then it doesn’t encourage people to go down there and it is a great pity.”

Celia Holman, of the Twickenham Riverside Village group, said she remained hopeful Francis Terry had listened to residents’ feedback and the revised designs would reflect this.

She said: “It would appear that only they can save Twickenham from the Council's poorly thought out brief.

“Please, Mr Terry, show us that you at least have listened.”

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

Pamela Fleming with Francis Terry

Richmond’s cabinet member for environment, Pamela Fleming, said the council have listened to feedback and residents will see their views reflected in the updated designs in July.

She said: “We promised that we would hold further a consultation over the summer and into the autumn.

“We will ensure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to have their say. It will be a nine-week consultation period, the longest consultation period ever.

“We will again have the pop-up shop for part of that time, where residents will be able to meet with the architects.”

Leader of Richmond’s opposition, Gareth Roberts, criticised the council for offering residents just one choice of design for which to provide feeback.

He said: “I suggest that Cllr Fleming should allow a 'None of the above' style response which would give those people who want something completely different, not just yet another tweaked version of an unpopular design, a real say in Twickenham's future."