Pool improvements to make a splash in Teddington (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

And still no pool (or proposals) for Whitton and Twickenham, a large area that does not have access to modern fitness facilities.

Good health shouldn’t depend on your income. Unless you can fork out for private gyme membership - £984 per year at Virgin Active Twickenham - you are condemned to die early. Not that the local Tories give a hoot about those on low incomes.

If you look at the Local Primary Care Website you can see statistics that show that people in the poorer wards of the borough die significantly younger and suffer from more cancer than the richer area. I believe there is a direct link between the lack of leisure facilities in Twickenham and people dying younger.

Why should we pay council tax in Twickenham for all the investment go into the richer areas of the borough. Thoes with least need -get the most help from this council.

Wow there are some reaching statements there Bob - unless you can afford a gym then you are "condemned to die early" is possibly my favourite.

Sure, access to a discounted council gym could be one factor in being healthy and combating cancer but there are so many others, how you you know how much of a direct link specifically between these two exists when low income drives many of these such as general health education, diet, fast food reliance etc.

Your council tax pays for all manner of schemes in all areas of the borough - not just "all of the investment in richer areas of the borough". Many local towns such as Whitton & Twickenham get special funding such as help with town centres because they are seen as needing this help: schemes that towns such as Teddington aren't considered for.

PS Whitton has a Council sports and fitness centre so by your reckoning, are cancer rates much higher in the poorer areas of Twickenham than in Whitton's?

I too would love a pool to return to Twickenham. The former sorting office site would be ideal. Wonder if any Leisure developers have been approached?

I guess Isleworth is the closest fitness centre with a pool to Whitton. That complex has undergone extensive refurbishment.

Teddington pool and fitness offers good value for money - £45 a month (or less with concessions) buys you unlimited swim, gym and classes - plus £1.20 each way on the bus (with an Oyster card).

PS Perhaps the Teddington Councillors (at least one of whom I believe uses the centre) lobbied for the further improvements?

I love Teddington Pool, and would only change two things about it: 1) Move it to Twickenham 2) Allow lane swimming after 8.30pm on at least one day of the week so that I could actually get the chance to use it.

Access to good sport facilities is a key factor determining your life span. As physical activity is an important pillar of good health.

Yes there are other pillars such as diet, genetics etc, but the existence of other factors does not diminish the importance of good quality regular exercise.

Swimming pools and gyms are important as they provide motivation to lead a healthy life, and can be done solo. No need to join a sports team, and they get your heart rate up lot more than just going on a brisk walk.

Good stats on this deprived area of the borough;
http://www.richmond.
gov.uk/1010_quindrat
_multi_teams_heathfi
eld_whitton_and_west
_twickenhamweb.pdf

This document on the closure of Heathfield Library has good info on health in Whitton & West Twickenham;

http://www.richmond.
gov.uk/heathfield_li
brary_needs_assessme
nt.pdf

waldopepper, I appreciate that all areas of the borough get funding for projects, but I would make these observations;

When it comes to funding projects, the richer areas get funding 1st. eg Teddington School rebuild before Twickenham Academy (who have also been given a smaller budget).

The quality of pavements & street furniture in Teddington town centre, is vastly higher as the council has historically invested a lot more money in the area - whilst Whitton has not received an equivalent level of funding in the past twenty years.

Whitton Sports centre is only open part time – and its hours do not suit the working poor. Many who are shift workers, and thus don’t have a traditional 9 to 5 working day. They often have to work nights, evening and weekends in poor quality no-prospects jobs thanks to de-regulation.

The facilities at Whitton Sports Centre (which are just basic school facilities make available out of hours) are far inferior to that on offer at Teddington Pool. Yet we pay the same council taxes.

Because Whitton is on the edge of the borough, we are discriminated against when funding decisions are made. Looking at council reports and minutes, the fact that a percentage of out of borough residents will use the facilities means we go down the pecking order (e.g. new school must be were most places must go to residents – means wards on the edge of the borough miss out time and again.

The same rationale was used to close Healthfield Library despite being the ward in most need of measures to raise basic literacy.

Building new sports facilities takes a long time, and first step need is for the council to identify areas where extra provision is needed. It’s blindingly obvious that new facilities are needed in the Whitton / Twickenham quadrant and ALL the councillors and officials are doing the public a disservice by burying their heads in the sand.

You could argue that the new health and social care centre due to open in Whitton this spring, with "state of the art facilities" will contribute towards improved health outcomes for the area. http://www.community
healthpartnerships.c
o.uk/?id=351&ob=2

Although it is a shame that it was at the expense of losing Heathfield Library. Where there's a will there's a way for a proper long term solution to be found.

The rebuild at Twickenham Academy will include new and modern sports facilities for public use outside of school hours, which includes evenings and weekends. There is a quite new sports playing field area on the other side of the A316 with astro turf, changing rooms and is floodlit at night.

It is not all doom and gloom for the Whitton and West Twickenham area. There is more that could be done, particularly in Whitton High Street but at least progress is being made which should be acknowledged.