Sir Trevor McDonald to switch on Community TV

12.31.31pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 25th Jul 2008

• SIR Trevor McDonald will launch the new Richmond upon Thames Community Television service on Thursday 17 July at the RFU in Twickenham.

The initiative aims to deliver key public information messages, directly into the heart of the community. Ten plasma screens have been installed at locations around the borough which attract high volumes of the public. Run on a 30-minute loop , the screens broadcast local information, community safety messages, national news, weather and sport, emergency messages and crime reduction initiatives to help combat crime and reduce the fear of crime within the area. Sites are located at RFU rugby stores, Richmond College, Twickenham Station, Civic Centre, Teddington Memorial Hospital walk in centre, Hampton open air pool, Richmond Station, Marks and Spencer in Richmond and Kew Retail Park, and Sheen Lane Centre. The scheme is run by the Richmond Local Strategic Partnership, which brings together Richmond Council, the Police and the NHS, as well as other private, voluntary and community organisations.

Richmond Council's Cabinet Member for Communities, Sir David Williams, said:

"Richmond upon Thames is currently the safest borough in London. I am very clear that initiatives like this one, where the Council has a very good working relationship with the police, the health service and local people, are crucial to keeping us the safest. This scheme will not only allow us to get vital information into the heart of our community, it will also play a big role in providing reassurance and reducing the fear of crime. Like so much that we do now, partnership working will be at the heart of its success."