A ‘MASTERPLAN’ to transform Twickenham’s Crane Valley has been revealed by Richmond upon Thames Council, who are urging residents to express their views on their ‘vision for the future’.

The four ‘working drafts’ to transform the area, which runs from Twickenham sorting office in the east to Kneller Gardens in the west, created by independent consultants, were exclusively revealed to the Times this week.

The revolutionary proposal would involve relocating Richmond upon Thames and Richmond adult colleges, building a new secondary school and new housing, while preserving the ‘green corridor’ along the Crane Valley.

The council are keen to stress that nothing is finalised, but the options are ideas on how to improve the area as a whole.

The ideas which are sure to cause most controversy are proposals to build homes on the Mereway Allotment and rifle club sites, as campaigns to protect them following proposals to remove their Metropolitan Open Land status are already underway.

Yet campaigners fighting to protect Kneller Gardens could be heartened as it remains a public space in each option.

Cabinet member for the environment and planning, Cllr David Marlow explained why they are targeting the area. He said: "It is derelict and neglected and we need to do something about it. A lot of the land is owned by the council and it is a disgrace. Whatever option we take, we are looking for a transformation in this area to improve land usage and activity with particular reference to providing a green corridor along the Crane Valley."

And he stressed that the council want to work in partnership with residents and the area’s landowners. He said: "We are taking the ideas into a full consultation and co-operation to achieve the outcomes we want. It is a big scheme and only by moving forward with residents and landowners in the area can we do it."

The plan for relocating Richmond upon Thames and Richmond Adult College is dependent on a future merger, which is currently under discussion.

If this does happen, a potential plan would be to move the adult college from its Clifden site, which could then be used as a site for a secondary school.

Cllr Marlow said: "The Clifden Centre becomes a new school in all the options. That is us meeting the objections and concerns of people who didn’t want it on Heathfield Rec or the Mereway allotments."

They also argue that relocating RuT college to the old Post Office land would benefit the residential area around the current site, as it is right next to the station.

The options for housing development are likely to create the most opposition, with potential sites earmarked as the depot site, tertiary college site, rifle club, Mereway allotments and even the Craneford Way playing fields.

Yet Cllr Marlow denied making money from housing was council priority over retaining open land, responding that they wanted to see ‘proper and optimum use of land’.

Director of Environment for Richmond upon Thames Council, Trevor Pugh said: "We are very keen to see what people think about this. They are illustrative options but not the only way we could improve this area. It could be that something results from this which is very different and is interesting for us to look at."

Following the consultation, which runs until July 4th, the proposals will be considered by the government planning inspector at the UDP inquiry, which runs until October. If their plans are successful, separate planning applications will have to be made for each separate proposal, with more consultation.

Cllr Marlow said: "There are lots of procedures and the whole thing is quite involved, but hopefully it will take years rather than decades. It is overall vision rather than a piecemeal approach. If you know where you are going you are more likely to achieve it."

Borough residents are urged to attend the exhibition on the plans at Twickenham Civic Centre which runs between June 13th and July 4th. Comments are required by that closing date.

There is also a public meeting at York House on June 18th at 8pm and the council are planning to leaflet 3,000 homes.