STOP PRESS – Council forced into humiliating U turn on Regal House ‘hotel’

The scheme to turn the eyesore that is Regal House into a budget priced hotel was tonight defeated, thanks to a positive lead by the Conservatives alerting local residents to the development planned for their doorsteps.

During the meeting in the Council Chamber which was packed with angry residents, a representative for the developers curiously admitted that the hotel “would not be serving hot breakfasts”. Residents were left to wonder at the implications of this news, plus the rather uncertain response to questions regarding where adequate parking for 40+ cars might be found, given that the development did not include sufficient parking spaces even for the disabled. Residents complained bitterly about the loss of privacy and the deterioration to their quality of life that the proposed hotel would bring.

Faced with this revolt, Lib Dem Councillors suddenly found commonsense and voted against the scheme. One hopes they find a similar realisation for the even more questionable Riverside development.

Meanwhile, the threat of hi-rise in the area remains, since the area around Twickenham station has been identified by the Lib Dem Council as one that has potential for hi-rise buildings.

Splurge On Controlled Parking Zones

“As people sit down to digest the nightmare of the highest tax increase in London, they might reasonably think that the only excuse for such a damaging increase in a recession was that the Council was out of money,” said Opposition Leader, Nicholas True.

“Far from it. Incredibly, fresh from their shameful squandering of £1.4 million on parking meters, the Cabinet on Monday plans to splurge nearly £600,000 on investigating new controlled parking zones to drag more people into their hated CPZ tax net. £333,000 will be siphoned off from the Repairs and Renewals Fund designed to pay for Council buildings and equipment.  What is it with this Council that marches on with its obsessive war on motorists, when key services, like libraries and meals on wheels are ripped with cuts?  They have hired phalanxes of new traffic officers in the last few months. There is never a lack of money in Richmond for finding ways to tax the family car!”

“Once again we see the crazed priorities of a Council that has completely lost touch with local residents,” said Transport spokesman, Cllr Clare Head. “It is hell-bent on imposing more CPZs on a reluctant population.  Our view is simple:let the people decide”.

Richmond Worst Again For School Choice

It  has now been revealed that many parents did not get any of the choices they made for their children’s secondary education. Councillor David Marlow, Conservative education spokesman, stated, ‘the fact that some 13% of parents were not offered a single place at a school of their choice puts Richmond at the bottom of the national league tables in this respect. Nearly 40% failed to get their first choice. It demonstrates that the Borough is simply not offering what many parents want at secondary level. It is clear that the lack of a Catholic secondary school is a major factor and we would do our best to provide one. Many  parents simply do not have confidence in all our schools. This is not helped by the possible disruption caused by the proposed Libdem Academy programme. We share the misgivings of many parents about the choice of sponsors – and now even Susan Kramer MP is not backing the Council’s choice. We  have urged the council to rethink their choice which was made without any consultation with stakeholders. It grieves me that we are not offering what parents want for their children at this crucial time of their lives”

College Comes Home

As from April next year the Richmond upon Thames College will come under Council control as Richmond council will commission its work. Councillor David Marlow, Conservative education spokesman stated: ”It is highly regrettable that our LibDem Council is making no plans for this major change as the Learning and Skills Council ceases next year.  I very much welcome the return of the college to the Borough when the Learning and Skills Council ceases next year. This is an excellent opportunity to integrate the College into Borough education provision. – especially as, with more than 50% of its students coming from outside, it has ceased to be our local College. This is all the more  important as none of the Borough secondary schools has a sixth form. We would work closely with the College to further our aspiration for sixth forms in our Secondary Schools. We should take this opportunity to establish an system  which is the first choice for local students. To many the Learning and Skills Council has been  remote and unaccountable. With sixth forms in our schools and an integrated system involving schools and College , we have a real chance of transforming our secondary education – so that it matches our Primary Schools in their excellent standards”.

Academies: Sham Consultation

The Council has just announced the dates for so-called consultation on its proposal to hand over HCC and Whitton for ever to Swedish Kunskappskolan.  “This is a total sham” said Opposition Deputy Leader Councillor Geoffrey Samuel.  “At these stage-managed meetings the audience will be able to ask questions and seek information.  But will they be allowed to debate, to vote on whether they want their local school handed over to a private company with no experience of English Education ?  No !  Once again this LibDem Counci, is prepared to ride roughshod over local opinion in order to impose an unwanted take-over.  There is no local demand for this proposal.  And if they only dared to ask the people, they would get a very rude shock.  It is outrageous that stakeholders are denied a vote on this radical and unpopular proposal.”

“No” to Frozen Meals

Vulnerable residents – currently clients of hot meals-on-wheels – are saying NO to frozen meals in ever increasing numbers – a real slap in the face for Councillor Carr. Opposition spokesmen on Adult Services Councillor Pat Parsons said: “I can now reveal that of 196 recipients of Meals on Wheels so far contacted already 41 (21%) have refused to transfer to the Council’s frozen-meals-or-nothing policy. 129 are still to be ‘reviewed’ although details must be known by mid-April in time for the new service on 1st May.   What a shambles !  It is bad enough that this uncaring Council is abandoning its own hot meals on wheels service; bad enough that vulnerable people will no longer receive the comforting daily call of the Apetito deliverer.  But now we find that residents are – understandably – refusing the frozen meals.   We all know the risk that vulnerable elderly people who live on their own do not eat properly.  At least that was a risk that was limited when they received their daily hot meal.  But what will happen to them when no meal of any kind is provided ?   It is beyond belief that in our Borough this uncaring LibDem Council is abandoning them in this way”.

College Comes Home

As from April next year the Richmond upon Thames College will come under Council control as Richmond Council will commission its work. Councillor David Marlow, Conservative education spokesman stated: ”It is highly regrettable that our LibDem Council is making no plans for this major change as the Learning and Skills Council ceases next year. I very much welcome the return of the college to the Borough when the Learning and Skills Council ceases next year. This is an excellent opportunity to integrate the College into Borough education provision. – especially as, with more than 50% of its students coming from outside, it has ceased to be our local College. This is all the more important as none of the Borough secondary schools has a sixth form. We would work closely with the College to further our aspiration for sixth forms in our Secondary Schools. We should take this opportunity to establish an system which is the first choice for local students. To many the Learning and Skills Council has been remote and unaccountable. With sixth forms in our schools and an integrated system involving schools and College , we have a real chance of transforming our secondary education – so that it matches our Primary Schools in their excellent standards”.

Response to Council Press Releases: hot meals on wheels

See acs-fact-sheet-march-09, a leaflet being circulated to recipients of hot meals on wheels.

Councillor Geoffrey Samuel says: “This makes it quite clear that Councillor Carr misled the Council by claiming that hot meals were continuing.  Not so !  A further information leaflet that the Council sends out mentions other hot-meals delivered services – available for around £5 – a far cry from the present £3.10.  But then this Council cares little for vulnerable housebound people on limited incomes”

Response to Council Press Releases: phone to park

Councillor Geoffrey Samuel said: “A welcome development.  But residents will be suspicious.  Why does the Council not tell us how much each phone call will cost ? Are they up to something….again?”

Response to Council Press Releases: car clubs

Councillor Geoffrey Samuel said: “The Council has rightly been criticised for riding roughshod over local people and installing bays outside their homes – without either informing or consulting them.  Residents see Car Clubs as yet another example of this arrogant non-cosulting Council rather than – as it could, and should be – an excellent new service.  In future we expect the Council to consult before installing.”