We really hope you like our new vision for the Twickenham Riverside Park and Town Square. As we've said before this is a concept proposal to show what can be created with a full site approach. The Town Square and Riverside Park The town square will be large enough to hold markets (eg farmers, other foods, seasonal fairs, arts and crafts,) and various performances. It will also be able to hold a seasonal ice rink and all the events that take place in Diamond Jubilee Gardens, but without the noisy generators! Our statistician says it will be the size of 11 tennis courts. The Riverside Park will be a largely green space in which to relax and enjoy the lovely river views without a car in site. There will be a large playground at the west end next to the boathouse café and tea rooms. The steps and ramps between the park and square will also act as a minor performance area. All of this is only possible if the all the car parking is relocated underground and the road is removed from the riverfront. What Can You Do? 1. Have Your Say in the Council’s consultation survey. It’s quick and easy and you can tell them exactly what you think and what you want in the general comments box (Q10 online). The last day of the consultation is Monday 30 October. https://www.richmond.gov.uk/twickenham_rediscovered 2. If you’d like to see the Council’s proposal in the flesh and speak to councillors and officers about it, you have one last chance at Clarendon Hall on Thursday 26 Oct from 6-8.30pm 3. Add a Comment on our petition. We love reading these as they give us, and the Council, a very clear insight into what you like/dislike about the proposals and what else you would like to see. 4. Share our petition with your contacts. When we get to 1,500 supporters an automatic notification will be sent to the Leader of the Council. 5. Email your ward councillors (contact details in last update) 6. Write a ‘letter’ to the Twickenham Tribune. letters@TwickenhamTribune.com MORE INFO Viability Carving up the site and taking a piecemeal approach to its design and development can only result in a sub-optimal solution, as you will have seen with the Council's latest proposal where the Diamond Jubilee Gardens and the Embankment road and car park have been excluded. This piecemeal approach also impacts viability. The Council have already admitted that they will not achieve their stated 'nil-cost' aim, even with their big blocks of flats. By using the whole site and building down the two sides it is possible to have more buildings, but sympathetic buildings that will be lower and have less impact on the local environment. Indeed, they can and should be designed to complement the local area, rather than clash with it. Car Park Taking a full site approach and relocating ALL the riverside parking underground facilitates the creation of the large town square and riverside park. The car park will take all 80 parking spaces from the Embankment, Water lane and Wharf Lane. Additional spaces will be available for new and existing businesses. Entry and exit will be under the new buildings at the top of Water and Wharf Lanes, thus protecting the car park from flooding and keeping most vehicles away from the riverfront. There will be convenient pedestrian access from all sides. Obviously, vehicles will still be able to surface park along the other side of the Embankment, and the loading bays will remain by the Eel Pie Island bridge. Cycling There will be a cycle track down Wharf Lane and along the Embankment. We recognise the importance of cycle parking in a car-free scheme and will work with the Richmond Cycling Group to ensure this meets cyclists growing needs. Water Lane will have two way access to King Street and Church Street, thus improving connectivity between the riverside route and the town centre. Lido Many people have expressed an interest in a lido. Having visited the Bristol Lido, we can see the attraction. We are currently working on a lido concept, which we believe will work well alongside the town square and riverside park.