Whitton uplift under way (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)
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Whitton uplift under way
2:33pm Tuesday 28th February 2012 in News By Rachel Bishop
The long-awaited regeneration work in Whitton is under-way, as the biggest phase of Richmond Council’s Uplift programme swings into action.
About £200,000 will be spent replacing all 32 lamp columns with 1930s-style columns, which will be completed by the end of March - along with the improvements works to designated shop fronts along the high street.
The project is funded through the Mayor of London’s Outer London Fund and the council’s own Uplift budget.
The council’s cabinet member for highways and street scene, Councillor Chris Harrison, said: “We’ve listened to what people in Whitton overwhelmingly said was important to them.
“The All in One gave us a strong idea of what people actually wanted for Whitton and, where we can, we’re acting on what they said. We have this great body of evidence which shows what people believe are the priorities, so the more we can deliver, the better.”
The All in One results showed respondents felt more needed to be done to encourage shoppers, including making the high street more attractive and improvements to parking, public transport and feelings of safety around Whitton High Street.
The whittontowncentre.co.uk website will also be redesigned through the project, and re-launched to promote the businesses and services available locally.
Comments(13)
metis
says...
5:49pm Tue 28 Feb 12
Twickenham Bob
says...
1:57pm Fri 2 Mar 12
You are being mischievous; I support traditional English Democracy that is known as Liberal Representative Democracy, where we elect representatives, and can hold them to account at the ballot box.
It's also vital we have checks and balances. So they are not dictators inbetween elections.
Fascists though often employ ‘Direct-Democracy
where they ask loaded questions and direct results to predefined outcomes. Look at how this council consults and draw your own conclusions.
Gareth Roberts
says...
2:47pm Fri 2 Mar 12
Do you know what? Conservative Councillor for Whitton, Gareth Elliot voted against a huge injection of cash for Whitton. Similarly Conservative Councillor for Heathfield Alan Butler voted against the Heathfield Library money in spite of having campaigned against its closure.
Both behaved like nodding dogs, backing the front bench budget without so much as a blink of the eye. So much for local representation.
nlait
says...
6:23pm Sat 3 Mar 12
I do not recall requesting 'pastiche lamp posts' in Whitton High Street!
I am tired of raising with this Council inadequate street cleansing. Was my road swept this fortnight NO.
And of course the crumbling tarmac and broken paving stones will prevail whilst 'pet projects' are pursued.
Perhaps Cllr Harrison could enlighten us as to "so the more we can deliver, the better.”
Indeed, perhaps Cllr Harrison could tell us WHEN the weekly litter picks mentioned in a Council press release WILL commence. To this day, I have NEVER seen a weekly litter pick taking place after the waste and recycling collections.
metis
says...
9:05pm Sun 4 Mar 12
So how is that traditional English democracy working out for you when there is no discernible difference between the major parties, manifestos are vague and disregarded at the first opportunity? Direct democracy would put more power in the hands of the people, especially if it had a budgetry element to it.
I suspect that this subject will disappear from the thread before you manage to get a 'cut and paste' response back from Socialist HQ!!
Twickenham Bob
says...
5:57pm Mon 5 Mar 12
Though play ground insults often employed by Conservative Party members often backfires on them as they really do need to learn that world has moved on from the 1950 when their were real Trots and communists about.
This link has a good round up on direct democracy and why the American founding fathers rejected it http://www.economist
.com/node/18548119 and no one can accuse them of being socialists!
Its also interesting to see how the council consults and wont proceed on certain matters unless the unelected Whitton Business Association gives its consent - e.g. the new parking restrictions in the high street.
Despite recent calls in the Telegraph, businesses do not have the vote, and their views whilst they can be taken into account, ought not have the weight the current council give it.
metis
says...
12:01am Tue 6 Mar 12
I read the link in your post and the following comment from Stephen Morris who put his arguments much more coherently than I could and would find hard to disagree with.
You say business does not have the vote - yet they contribute far more to the coffers than the individuals that userp all the so-called entitlements.
TrevorC
says...
7:38am Tue 6 Mar 12
Regarding the lamp posts, they were replaced not that long ago and a fresh lick of paint should have been adequate. I am a little suspicious that the new lamp posts are totally benign, or if hiding new surveillance technology that could be readily activated in the future. That is not an unknown pattern of events.
£497,000 of the money being spent is a capital grant from the Mayor of London's "Outer London" fund for the high streets, and it will be interesting to see what other appearance or structural improvements there will be. An obvious one would be to improve some of the shop frontages, including those that are empty. A high street does need to be parking friendly and the re-routing of the 110 bus through Whitton High Street will also help for both trade and local residents. A win win, surely?
metis
says...
7:43am Tue 6 Mar 12
The Socialist/Communist threat has not gone away - its a longer term, more insidious strategy as per the 'Frankfurt School'. Check out an explanation of 'Fabians window' whose emblem is a wolf in sheeps clothing - which should provide a clue.
metis
says...
8:03am Tue 6 Mar 12
Shop frontages are not public property so there is a limit on what the council can enforce. Landlords still pay rates on vacant property whilst getting no return so have little incentive to smarten the frontages up.
Contrary to your opinion, I think easier parking is vital for a viable high street.
TrevorC
says...
9:12am Tue 6 Mar 12
It is not about council enforcement with improving shop frontages but help and support for those that choose to accept it, if funding is available.
As for landlords of vacant properties, they should be required to maintain the frontage, and even give the shop a mock front window display exterior. If they don't, then a premium charge should be imposed for the Council to do that.
No, it is not about the Council dictating priorities, but striking a balance with surveys and their representation. Just as a local election does not necessarily represent the majority, bearing in mind the low turnouts, neither does a survey with only a very small percentage response. They should not be ignored but perhaps not used as the only source or basis for making decisions. That is my point.
Gareth Roberts
says...
10:43am Tue 6 Mar 12
Take the example of VI forms.
The question was something along the lines of "Do you think VI forms are a good idea" which plenty of people answered yes.
What should have been asked was "Do you think it is a good idea to spend £25 million on VI Forms?" and I would be prepared to bet the answer would have been markedly different.
Twickenham Bob says...
3:12pm Tue 28 Feb 12
It’s also why we have liberal representative democracy in the UK, we delegate decisions to elected officials who then spend time looking at plans in detail, and can weigh out priorities on a rational basis.
I doubt that anyone filling in the survey would have realised that saying you believed pavements ought to be repaired would result in Councillors twisting the results to justifying letting builders get away without building affordable housing.
The lack of affordable housing in the UK is one of the biggest social evils in our society and cause distress, and ill health on a monumental scale. Both within our borough and nationwide.
I doubt that replacing the street lights in Whitton is wise use of tax payer’s money. They needed repainting and that’s all. The £190,000 that would have been saved could have been spent of other more worthy projects, either in the high street or elsewhere.