• May 2010 Election %s: C 34.2; LD 40.3; L 10.9; I 14.6. C 1 LD 2.

• WHITTON: The Forgotten Town? Far from it! Cllr Liz Jaeger writes: Richmond Council's Cabinet last night agreed two items that will smooth the way for yet more investment in the Whitton area. The decisions, one of which agreed terms for the land sale for a new health centre and the second, which announced sites for wave two of the playbuilder programme, are the latest in a very long list by this Lib Dem Council to improve facilities in Whitton. Taken together, public expenditure in Whitton since the Lib Dems took control of the Council four years ago, and planned expenditure in the immediate future, amounts to several tens of millions of pounds. This is an historic level of investment and gives the lie to the negative and ill-informed accusations from the Tories that the Lib Dems have neglected the area.

In fact Whitton is receiving some of the very highest levels of public investment in the borough. On schools and children's services, there is £22.35m earmarked for the secondary school and £6m to expand Chase Bridge. Already in place are the new pitches and pavilion for Whitton School, representing an investment of £1.1m, and the new foundation stage class at Nelson Primary, £0.5m. The new children's centre on Powder Mill Lane was provided at a cost of £1.7m.On the Whitton School site there is the new Whitton Gateway centre for autistic children, opened in late 2006 with £1.3m funding from the Council. And nearby, the new premises for the Whitton and Heathfield police safer neighbourhood teams.

Youth services have benefited from having a dedicated youth worker for the Whitton area. The £150k youth vote for a youth café in Whitton High Street will see a premises opening shortly, and the new Thursday youth nights at Whitton School have been very successful. The playbuilder scheme has seen three new facilities built in the area, in Murray Park, Heathfield Rec and Edgar Road. Last night's decision will see a fourth and fifth playground, at Chase Green and in Crane Park. Overall this is an investment of some £250k in new play areas. Additionally Crane Park is benefiting from a further £400k improvements through the London Parks Challenge. If the new Whitton Health and Social Care Centre receives planning permission, the new building will be a further £7.8m capital investment in the area. And there is £0.5m set aside to reprovide a new library if the centre goes ahead.

The High Street has recently been allocated funds for environmental improvements. An election pledge from the Lib Dems to reinstate the Whitton town centre manager has been honoured. Other improvements in the area include the refurbishment of the public toilets and the expansion of the recycling facilities. In 2010/11, £100k is ring-fenced for improvements to the pedestrian crossing at the station. Far from being a forgotten neighbour, Whitton and Heathfield wards are benefitting from one of the highest levels of investment in the borough.

• [From Comments Spring 2010] • WHITTON High Street: Your local Lib Dem team have long been asking for improvements to Whitton High Street. "The good news is that the Council have just announced they are making funds available for environmental improvements to the High Street," said Cllr Liz Jaeger. There have been changes recently at the Britannia Lane Centre: it is intended in the near future to open up the Centre for wider community use once internal works and redecoration is completed. If you are interested in using the Centre, please phone 8734 3415 . . Progress too on the former Co-op building: we remain hopeful that negotiations will conclude and the site soon come back into use ending the years of dereliction. In the meantime, we are pressing for the building to be made safe so that it doesn't present a risk to passers by.

• MANY Whitton residents voted last year for Crane Park in the 'Help a London Park' challenge. The park achieved the highest number of votes, and consequently was awarded the £400,000 for improvements. Plans for the park were recently put up on the Council web site for people to comment on. The planned improvements include making the park more welcoming, improving access and creating links between the two sides of the river. You can still visit the Council web pages to see what is being suggested:http://www.richmond.gov.uk/parks/crane_ park "This grant is great news for local people. The borough has some of the best green spaces in London," said Cllr Liz Jaeger.

• TELFORD & Harvey Roads Footbridge: Residents on the Feltham Triangle Estate use this footbridge to access Hanworth Road. But there is a lot of anti social behaviour with vandalism to the bridge and trespass on the railway line. The bridge is the property of the Council, and local councillors have been asking for repairs and improvements. Recently there have been repairs to panels and handrails. But more needs to be done including extending the cage over the bridge, improved lighting and barbed wire to prevent climbing up the structure.

"Along with the improvements that the housing association is planning for the hard standing area next to the bridge, there is a real chance we could make this area feel a lot safer." If nothing is done, there is a risk that Network Rail could have the bridge removed for health and safety reasons. " It would be inconvenient for many local residents if this pedestrian exit from the estate were closed. Let us know what you think should be done about the problems in this area " asks Lib Dem campaigner Arnie Gibbons.

• VINCAM Close Success: Local councillors have been working with the residents of Vincam Close and Hospital Bridge Road to resist a second large housing development in this area. While more affordable housing is desperately needed in the borough, this proposed development, with 69 bedrooms, is too large for the limited space available - one third of a hectare - currently occupied by two bungalows. There would be nowhere for the 45-50 children expected to live there to play. The development also relies on inadequate access arrangements.

Cllr Liz Jaeger spoke against the proposal at a Council planning committee meeting in November, and it was turned down. However ,the Council's refusal was appealed by the developers. Liz and residents attended a hearing in early February and spoke against the development. "We sent a petition with over a 100 signatures to the Government's planning inspector. Thankfully, we have just heard that the appeal has also been turned down, " she said.

• 110 BUS: Local councillors and residents are campaigning for the 110 to be rerouted so that people in the Powdermill Lane and Hanworth Road areas of Whitton can get to the High Street in one bus journey. As well as making life easier for residents, this would help support our 'shop local' campaign and generally provide better public transport links for the town centre.

• MURRAY PARK: Sadly there has been deliberate damage to several of the trees in the park. The parks department have now put up fencing to protect the trees. Please let the Council or the local police know if you have any information about who is responsible for this vandalism. The park is again host to a 'FitPoint', where young and old can use the equipment to get fit. "Do let the Council know if you think it should become a permanent fixture," said local campaigner York Membery.

• COMMUNITY toilet scheme: One of the popular initiatives started by the Liberal Democrats on Richmond Council has been the Community Toilet Scheme. 90 toilets in pubs, cafés, and offices around the borough are now open to the public. The Council pays the venue £600 a year to allow unrestricted access to the toilets. This is very much cheaper, and offers many more toilets, than the traditional public toilets, which are very expensive to maintain. Just look for the Community Toilet sign outside. 4 places in Whitton and Heathfield have joined the scheme: Golden Grill; La Parisienne; Twickenham Cemetery; and Whitton Library.


• The Borough's 90 Community Toilets

• [From Comments Winter 2009-10] New Youth Cafe for WHITTON HIGH STREET: Last year we reported back how this Liberal Democrat Council has delivered on its election pledge and increased spending on the youth services. This has greatly improved what's on offer for young people in Whitton. From being one of the worst- funded youth services in London under the Tories, we now have a service to be proud of, with more than three times as many teenagers taking part in local activities. On top of this, summer 2009 saw several thousand young people take part in the youth capital fund vote. £1 million was allocated by the local Lib Dems to reverse the woeful underfunding of youth facilities. Young people voted on which projects they'd most like to see happen in their part of the borough - in Whitton, a youth café in the High Street. The cafe will have internet access, and support and advice on hand when people want it. Youth related crime has fallen significantly since the increase in youth service funding. Local councillor Liz Jaeger said: 'This will become the hub for youth services in Whitton and a place to relax and listen to music with friends at weekends and after school. I really look forward to the café opening its doors early next year.'

• PEDESTRIAN Crossings: Many people locally will be aware of the long-running efforts to improve the safety of the pedestrian crossing by the station. Finally, £100,000 has been earmarked for converting the zebra crossing to a light- controlled crossing. "We are hopeful this work will happen in 2010/11 and will keep you informed of progress" said Comments team member Arnie Gibbons. Residents continue to be concerned about the safety of crossing Warren Road. Transport for London have so far resisted our attempts to get a crossing but the Comments team will carry on campaigning. Under pressure from Cllr Liz Jaeger, the Council will be doing a new traffic survey to support the case for a new crossing on Warren Road. "It is good news that we have the money earmarked to upgrade the crossing in Whitton town centre. It has been a long fight. We will keep up the pressure to secure a crossing for Warren Road," said local Whitton Councillor, Liz Jaeger

• WHITTON School to become an Academy: An independent consultation on the future of Whitton School has shown encouraging support for the Council's proposal to turn it into an Academy. In answer to the question:- Overall, to what extent are you in favour of the proposed Academy arrangements? -79% were broadly supportive. Cllr Eady, the Cabinet member for Children's Services said "I am very pleased that we have had such strong support for the proposals. There is also support from the staff, governors and parents, so I am confident that the school has a strong mandate for change, and a very exciting future. If the proposals are agreed by the council and the government, then the new school will open in September next year and we will then have access to about £16m for new and refurbished buildings.

• MURRAY PARK is a very valued open space in Whitton, and we continue to press for improvements to the park. "We've had the daffodil planting, and last spring the improved footpath from Whitton Dene. Early next year we shall be seeing a new play space in the park designed particularly to meet the needs of 8-13 year olds" reports Cllr Liz Jaeger. Youth workers, councillors and the local police have already fed in views, and designers will soon be talking to children, parents, community groups and residents' associations. We expect a detailed design to be finalised soon, with work on site starting in the New Year.

• CAR CLUBS: Over 2000 residents have signed up to join the popular car club scheme and there are now more than 70 car club parking bays in the borough. Two car club spaces are planned for the Heathfield side of Whitton in MONTROSE AVENUE and CHEYNE AVENUE, but we need some bays north of the railway line too. Your local councillors are pushing for the car club operators to provide bays for Whitton Ward. If you have suggestions as to where they might best be located, please let us know.

• With the success of Richmond's community toilet scheme, PUBLIC TOILETS have been gradually phased out across the borough. However we have lobbied to keep the block in WHITTON CAR PARK because there are not yet enough community toilet facilities available in the immediate area. Since the decision to keep the toilets open, there has been some excellent work done by the community payback scheme to make the toilets fit for use.

• ROAD CALMING Measures: The 'road calming' measures installed to the western end of NELSON ROAD have reduced average vehicle speeds. A new Council survey shows no vehicles exceeding 45 mph, whereas before the tables went in, over 30 vehicles a day were recorded at speeds above 45 mph, some as high as 55 mph. Almost 90% of cars are now travelling at 30 mph or less.

• Following requests from residents, shopkeepers and your local councillors, several additional cycle stands will be installed in WHITTON HIGH STREET.

From Comments Summer 2009: • MORE Money for Our Schools: The Council is investing heavily in expanding primary schools across the borough to cope with a baby boom. In Whitton, Chase Bridge School will be expanded to take 30 extra pupils a year. This coming September the places will be provided initially as 'bulge' classes. However, following agreement with the local authority to proceed to feasibility and planning, the school will expand permanently to three-form entry from September 2011. Cllr Liz Jaeger said: "The Council has put together a package of £33 million to fund expansion at five schools across the borough, which will provide an additional 150 permanent reception class places. We are determined to ensure that every child will continue to have a place at one of our excellent local schools."

• SEVERAL residents from Kneller, Seaton and Nelson roads were concerned to find that old tyres started appearing in the builders' yard at 8 Nelson Road around Easter time. Following concerted action from councillors and residents, planning enforcement were quickly onto the case and have recommended that the owner return the site to its original use. We shall be keeping an eye on this.

• IMPROVING Road Safety: Residents often ask us as councillors to suggest or progress yellow line restrictions, then perhaps wonder whatever happened with their complaint. Yellow line requests are grouped by area and finally it's Whitton's turn to see a backlog of requests progressed. There are more than a dozen requests being assessed including several in Kneller Road - these include the mini roundabout junction with Nelson Road and Whitton Dene, and the need for yellow hatched markings in front of the wheelchair ramp between Murray Park and Prospect Crescent.

Others include looking into restrictions in the Chase Gardens area to deal with parking problems caused by Harlequin fixtures, and the need for an ambulance bay to be marked out at the entrance to Somerville House. We also hope to see various improvements along Nelson Road, particularly in the vicinity of St. Vincent's Road and Nelson School. People who have been in touch with the Council about yellow lines should soon be hearing whether or not their requests will be progressing towards implementation.

• [From COMMENTS Winter 2008-9]: IMPROVING Youth Services: One of the key promises made by the Liberal Democrats before the last local elections was that we would increase spending on youth services. This has been done, and now there are more things to do, more places to go and more young people getting involved. Whitton now has its own dedicated youth worker, who has been working with young people in Murray Park, Feltham Triangle and the High Street to provide support and access to positive activities. There are also lunchtime outreach sessions at Whitton School to publicise existing services and a successful Whitton Youth Sports night has been held on Thursdays at the school since the summer term. Cllr Liz Jaeger, who has responsibilities for youth provision on the Council, says "With young people increasingly having a say in what they would like to see developed for them in the future, we are addressing the oft heard complaint that there's not enough for the youngsters to do around here."

• FLY Tippers Caught: Good news! Eight people have now been cautioned or prosecuted and fined for fly tipping in the area. Local Lib Dem councillors Liz Jaeger, Keith Warren and Sally Cole were contacted by residents, and the Whitton Network about the problem in library way, and in the car park near the recycling facilities. The Lib Dem team spoke to the council about the CCTV in the car park being used to catch the culprits - and this has now borne fruit! Cllr Sally Cole said "Fly tipping spoils the local environment for everyone, so it's good to see that those who do it are getting caught and punished for it." If you see fly tipping in public places in Whitton, please report it to the council fly tipping hotline on 08456 122 660 so that it can be removed.

• WHITTON Walkabout: Local Cllrs Liz Jaeger and Keith Warren recently took Richmond's Council Leader, Serge Lourie, and the Council's Director of Environment on a walkabout in Whitton to highlight issues affecting the area. They visited the High Street, Murray Park and several locations where there are traffic/safety concerns. Among the issues raised were the Whitton Station zebra crossing, vehicles crossing the public footways in the High Street to park on private forecourts, road sweeping and gully cleaning, and improvements to the park. "Your local Lib Dem team are fighting to make sure Whitton gets its fair share of Council resources," said Cllr Keith Warren.

• TOWN Centre Managers: The Council pays for a number of town centre managers in the borough. They are there to work with, and promote local businesses. Whitton has a new Town Centre Manager who started back in July. Local MP Vince Cable, as well as your local councillors, have all had meetings with the Whitton Town centre manager to discuss is- sues affecting the high street. Vince has also been helping to promote the first ever Whitton calendar - "A Glimpse of Whitton Past". The calendar features pictures of Whitton through the ages, including pictures of Kneller Road in 1910 complete with horse drawn carts.

• BRITANNIA Lane : Britannia Lane, the access road to the Whitton Resource Centre, has been plagued by problems, made worse by the lack of lighting in the lane. Last year, following pressure from local residents in Constance Road and from councillors, a new road nameplate was put up. Now at least people can find it, and importantly ambulances who may need to attend the day centre. Cllrs Liz Jaeger and Sally Cole have also been pushing for the road way to be resurfaced and ideally a pavement put in to make it safer for pedestrians. Liz says "The lighting is good news for both residents and users of the centre. Britannia Lane was an unpleasant place to have to venture into at night. We are hopeful 2009 will see further improvements made in the area."