You Must Be Choking!
Residents dealing with “mountains of dust” from former Greggs site.
Your Green Party councillor, Richard Bennett, has strongly criticised the developers of the former Greggs bakery site for causing serious dust pollution. Residents living nearby have complained that large quantities of demolition dust particles are severely affecting their health and wellbeing. Richard has raised these issues with the developer and Council staff tasked with enforcing strict conditions on the project.
Richard says: “It was obvious that the recent dry weather and strong winds were going to cause dust pollution but the developer didn’t stop demolition work. Residents know that I’m working hard to make sure the developer improves the situation and their communication to residents. I’m here to support residents but I also want London Square to shine as a flexible and considerate developer. This is essential for what still lies ahead.”
READ THIS NEWSLETTER IN PDF
Your five Green councillors continue to push the Lib Dems to take stronger action on many topics that benefit us all:
Helping residents cut energy costs
Councillor Richard Bennett, along with the other Opposition councillors, has successfully pushed the Council to help residents make their homes more energy-efficient. The Council has committed to giving residents information and free planning advice on how to make homes more energy-efficient and to switch to solar power or heat pumps; the Council also committed to promoting training and apprenticeships for young people.
Solidarity with women and girls
Richard joined people from across the borough on the White Ribbon Walk on International Women’s Day, Saturday 8th March to show his support and solidarity in tackling violence against women and girls.
Richard says: “White Ribbon walks are a great way of raising awareness – and we can all play a part in calling out negative behaviour if we see it.”
Clean air and protecting our environment
As the Opposition on Richmond Council, your Green Councillors have convinced the Council to commit to reducing the amount of our waste it incinerates, given that burning waste causes as much pollution as using coal power.
Richard says: Slow going on affordable housing“I’m pleased to see the Council recognises the climate and health risks caused by emissions from incineration and is taking action to reduce them.”
Slow going on affordable housing
Your Green councillors are consistently pushing for new developments in the borough to deliver genuinely affordable housing. We have highlighted the Council’s poor performance in recent years and will continue to do so.Work is starting on the long-awaited Twickenham Riverside development. But it’s slow going…
Richard says: “The Twickenham Open Air Swimming Baths closed in 1980, yet the new project has only reached the stage of “early works”. At a time when affordable housing is desperately needed, we still don’t know a target completion date. Also, even as councillors, we are in the dark on the final project costs.”
Community conversation
The next ‘Community Conversation’ will be Monday 13 October 2025 (7pm to 9pm) at Twickenham United Reformed Church, 3 First Cross Road, TW2 5QA. Come along and question the councillors for South Twickenham and West Twickenham about local issues. Register here: richmond.gov.uk/community_conversation.
