TALK of major planning developments currently in the pipeline causing irreversible damage' on Twickenham, its infrastructure and its community is certainly the stuff of headlines.

Whether it bears close scrutiny or not is an altogether different matter.

However, when that claim is made by the deputy leader of Richmond's council then such protestations carry some weight. Cllr Geoffrey Samuel is fearful about the effects of four significant planning developments that are in the process of being put together.

Added to other planning matters currently going through the system and you have, he believes, a recipe for the destruction of Twickenham as we know it.

While on the face of it this may seem a slightly over-dramatic response, the concerns do have a certain merit.

The area is already facing major change with the planned new South stand at Twickenham stadium. After much consultation and efforts at winning the hearts and minds of the community and the planners, the RFU is now set to proceed with its vaunted development.

That is not, however the plan that is exercising the mind of Cllr Samuel. He is more bothered about four other developments now approaching the starting blocks.

These concern a new stand at Harlequins rugby ground, the development of the Post Office sorting site, plans for development around Crane Valley which include new college buildings, and the development of Craneford Way depot.

It is the scale of these developments and their impact on the town that are a source of concern, for probably all them will involve new housing at some level. The council admit that up until now the area has developed without any overall vision, but is now pledging to put a strategy in place, which will preserve the character of the area.

While it is something of a relief to hear that, the concern must still remain. It is not so much the nature of the actual developments, but the implications they bring with them.

Twickenham is already a nightmare on the traffic front. Throw the consequences of these plans into that particular pot and it doesn't bear thinking about. Spice it up with match days at the two rugby grounds and you have a potentially hellish situation on your hands.

The planners and developers are clearly going to have their work cut out winning over the locals. The pressure on roads, schools, health facilities and other infrastructures will be significant. While Cllr Samuel may have overstated the fears, he is certainly right to raise the red flag on this one.

A planning guidance document has now been published by the local authority and is open to public consultation.

What the public must now do is look beyond the actual developments themselves and see what the council is proposing in terms of dealing with the knock-on impact of these developments.

It is one thing building smart new stadiums, colleges and houses. It is quite another making sure the community can absorb the consequences. The devil, as they say, needs to be found in the detail.