Suzette Nicholson, Ray Ball and Carol Stratton: councillors for Hampton working for Hampton Wick

cllr.snicholson@richmond.gov.uk · · · cllr.rball@richmond.gov.uk · · · cllr.cstratton@richmond.gov.uk · · · Please scroll down the page for full details of roles, biographies, etc..

• [Sep 10]: TEDDINGTON School Rebuild To Go Ahead, Despite 12% Cost Rise

● SANDY Lane planning inquiry to be re-run: Councillors James Mumford and Stephen Knight have backed the Council's opposition to the development on the old Jewson's site becoming higher and denser than had been agreed. A Planning Inquiry was held in February but unfortunately the Appeal Inspector fell seriously ill before making his report. In this very unusual situation the Appeal hearing will be re-run in October. Meanwhile the approved development continues to be built.

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• FROM COMMENTS winter 2006/7: the Liberal Democrats will introduce the doorstep collection of plastic bottles and cardboard later this year, whilst retaining the weekly waste collection. Despite scare-mongering and lies by the Tory opposition, the plastics and cardboard pilot scheme which had been in operation in some of the streets of Hampton will be extended across Hampton and the Borough in November. There will be a massive education exercise to let residents know how and when their waste will be collected and importantly extra investment in new street collection vehicles which will be purchased later this year. The Tories have been claiming that the Lib Dem council was planning to collect residual household waste fortnightly rather than weekly. This simply isn't true. Residents in Hampton were concerned to see a vehicle mixing recyclable materials together, however this was just part of an experiment to understand which was the best method to collect recycled materials. The Council still wants residents to separate materials as this is the most environmental and cost effective way to recycle.

Cllr Suzette Nicholson said "We aim to have the best and greenest waste collection in London. Doorstep collection of plastic bottles and cardboard was a key election promise, which we will be delivering later this year. This will increase the recycling rate in Hampton and across the Borough". Cllr Carol Stratton added "Recycling all recyclable waste is vitally important to protect our environment. Central government intends to impose increasing charges on waste going to land fill, especially organic waste, as landfill space is running out". Carol continued "Boroughs who do not meet recycling targets will be heavily penalised. More charges from central government mean more Council Tax so it makes financial as well as environmental sense for all of us to do all we can". The Council is hoping to encourage more residents to make use of the current food waste collection or for residents to compost their own organic waste. For more information contact one of your local councillors. Organic landfill is being particularly discouraged because it creates methane which is a much more powerful greenhouse gas than CO2.

• TACKLING climate change: The Lib Dems are tackling climate change locally. They have led the way including a policy to charge parking per- mits based on carbon emissions or engine sizes for cars older than 2001. Cllr Nicholson said "We hope people will change their behaviour and the next time they buy a car they will buy a less polluting car". As well as this national first the Council have also employed a Sustainability Manager to help the council and the borough's residents become even greener. Cllr Stratton (pictured above) added "As well as signing up to a climate change strategy we have also reduced the amount of energy the Council used in its first hundred days".

• YOUR local Councillors are eager to hear about any crime or anti-social behaviour problems in your area. Cllr's Ball, Nicholson and Stratton are eager to tackle these issues to help make Hampton as safe as possible. Cllr Ray Ball said "We hope residents will come along to the next police meeting to discuss these issues with your local police team as well as your councillors". Residents who are interested in the policing of their local area are being invited to Police Liaison Group meeting at Hampton Junior School on Monday 19th March at 7.30pm.

• HAMPTON Community College has received the Investor in Careers (IiC) accreditation. Awarded by Connexions, the accolade followed a rigorous inspection and covered all aspects of careers work. It was structured around four key elements relating to the management of careers education and guidance; commitment; organisation; delivery and evaluation.

• BUCKINGHAM Fence has been dismantled. This was put up by the last Conservative administration without consultation and has been taken down because of opposition by the residents. Consultation has already been a mark of the new Liberal Democrat Council, and following representation about the open land; the Council has agreed to award Buckingham Fields Village Green Status. This should ensure that it remains safe and open for community use well into the future.

• CARLISLE Park: We are very pleased to welcome our new tenant who has taken up residence in the flat on the top floor of the pavilion. We hope that our park keeper will be very happy in his new home. Residents can feel reassured that although he may not be working in the park all the time he will be present when the rest of us have gone home! This is something that Cllr. Suzette Nicholson has been pressing for since she was first elected in October 2004.

• THE future. The Council and other key groups are responsible for producing a Community Plan that sets out some key objectives for the next ten years. Residents were asked to register their views. The themes in the consultation included: Safer and stronger communities Greener and cleaner Healthier Communities Children and young people Business and culture As well as being able to make your views known online, some of you have been visited and asked to complete paper versions. By doing these two things we hope that more people would be able to contribute than a traditional consultation meeting. The results will be analysed and feedback given.

• PARKING in Station Road: Cllrs. Ray Ball and Carol Stratton are particularly taking the lead in changing the present restrictions. They are discussing the change of this area's parking to include 20 minute parking slots so that car drivers can make quick visits to the Post Office and other shops in this road.

• HORSE Chestnut Trees: You may have noticed that leaf miner moth has affected the Horse Chestnut Trees in Bushy Park and elsewhere. This caused their leaves to brown earlier than usual. If the tree becomes weakened it is also likely to be affected by the more serious 'bleeding canker'.

• BUS stops Work will be taking place in the Hampton area in the coming months on a number of the local bus stops in order to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act of 1995. Consultation to minimise any possible major inconvenience has taken place, but it is necessary that access to buses by disabled people does comply with the act.

At the election in May 2006, 3 Conservative Councillors were elected to represent Hampton Wick ward. However your Comments Team is eager to hear from you if you have any issues or concerns. Their contact details are below:

Jennifer Churchill

Tel: 8977 4541

E-mail: jennifer@twickenhamlibdems.co.uk

Jennifer was brought up on a farm in Devon and moved to London in 1998 to study Philosophy at UCL. She is 26 and lives in Teddington with her partner.

Jennifer is determined that local secondary schools, such as Teddington, are given better support by the Council, so that they can raise standards. She wants to see more places for young people to go, such as the successful skatepark at Kingsfield, introduced by the last Liberal Democrat administration. Jennifer wants the Council to take the environment seriously, with tough new action to make the borough more sustainable.

Jennifer's interests included welfare and development economics, modern world history and literature. She currently works for a London MEP.

Martin Pierce

Tel: 8876 6749

E-mail: martinpierce@btinternet.com

Martin is 41 and has lived in Richmond Borough for 17 years, where he lives with his wife Kate and two young daughters. Martha, his eldest daughter, started school last September at her local Primary School and loves it. Martin was a Borough Councillor for 8 years in Richmond previously, winning a reputation for working hard for local residents. On the Council he also chaired the Housing Committee for 2 years before former Hampton Wick Councillor Gita Rae, whom he worked with closely. Martin has a particular interest in education having trained as a secondary school teacher and been a School Governor. He is appalled at the decline in the Borough's secondary school performance under the Tories and is committed to raising standards again as a top priority.

Trevor Whittall

Tel: 8744 3336

E-mail: trevor.whittall@kcl.ac.uk

Trevor Whittall has lived in the borough for 14 years. He was a councillor from 1998-2002 and deputy mayor in 2002. He has been involved in the successful campaign for changes at Mogden Sewage works and is currently chair of the Action Group. He also led a campaign against the Port of London Authority over night-time closures of Richmond Lock Bridge. His three children attended Sacred Heart Primary school and he has been chair of governors at Orleans Infants School. He would like to see the entrance to the borough enhanced, a reduction in nuisance from pubs and clubs, and road safety standards maintained. He is looking for the council to use the highest enviromental standards in rebuilding of Teddington School.

. . working for you, all the year round!

Election, May 2006: Electorate 6814 Seats 3 Parsons Ballot Papers 3226 % Poll 47.34