Calls for council to hold public meeting over Twickenham Riverside (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)
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Calls for council to hold public meeting over Twickenham Riverside
2:45pm Monday 27th July 2009 in News
Pressure is mounting on the council to hold a public meeting before the contract to develop Twickenham Riverside is awarded.
The Conservative group leader Nicholas True called for political parties to sit down with the Environment Trust and campaigners opposed to the council's plans to build private housing on the site and find a favourable alterntative to the scheme.
Councillor True said: "Let us set aside divisions and work for a community solution."
He added that it was time council leader Serge Lourie faced reality and met people on an open-minded basis.
Coun True said he would give the council until early September to agree to hold a meeting or would proceed without it - although he acknowledged it would be hard to hold the talk without the council present.
He said: “I appeal to them to bring all parties together in talks before gifting a multi-million profit to these developers.
“If they do not, the Conservative Party will do its civic duty and convene such talks in September before Twickenham Riverside is added to an Essex developer's speculative land bank.”
Riverside campaigners asked Coun Lourie to hold a face-to-face meeting with Twickenham residents after he talked to Eel Pie Island residents last Monday.
Coun Lourie said he would discuss the proposal when he returned from holiday on August 3.
Deputy leader of the council, Councillor Stephen Knight, said: “We’re willing to discuss the scheme but the decision has already been taken. There is never going to be a solution that is favourable to all but I think we’ve got the best scheme.”
Comments(7)
Phillip Taylor
says...
10:13pm Mon 27 Jul 09
It is normally a sign that things are not healthy within a company when this happens and I just wonder how financially viable Countryside really are.
Susan Burningham
says...
4:52pm Tue 28 Jul 09
The main point of concern for Rivercentre supporters and detractors alike is that the Council's Financial Director should not be waiting for the accounts. A proper financial investigation has to take place to determine the worth and stability of Countryside. Nor should this investigation be a mere box ticking exercise conducted by some credit rating agency; the Council's Finance Director is paid a substantial salary by the Council taxpayer to analyse and make professional judgements. He is 'accountable'.
Sue H-M
says...
7:10pm Tue 28 Jul 09
Susan Burningham
says...
3:10pm Wed 29 Jul 09
You may not envy the Council's Finance Director his job, but he is paid well to make such assessments - we should therefore expect him to earn his salary and not pass the buck to some credit rating agency. Therein has been the misfortune of many financial organisation.
Sue H-M
says...
4:40pm Thu 30 Jul 09
Rupert Harris
says...
6:28pm Thu 30 Jul 09
Julie Hill says...
5:14pm Mon 27 Jul 09
Cllr Stephen Knight's comment that the decision has already been taken is rather at odds with his Leader's statement. Or are we to presume that this Administration will plough on with this deeply unpopular scheme regardless, once Countryside Property Developer's Accounts are finally available for scrutiny?