"I Was Conned By 'Save Our Riverside' Campaign" Says Its Facebook Group Founder (Twickenham & Richmond Liberal Democrats)

"I Was Conned By 'Save Our Riverside' Campaign" Says Its Facebook Group Founder

November 22, 2009 2:03 PM

• "I WAS taken in by what this group told me and I feel conned. I was led to believe that the Council was planning a large housing development for the riverside, but when you look at the actual plans that just isn't true.

A student who volunteered his services to the 'Save Our Riverside' campaign and set up its presence on Facebook now says he was conned by the campaign group. Adam Turner, a local student, says he joined the group when they told him that the Council was planning a large housing development on Twickenham's riverside. Filled with genuine concern at this prospect, he volunteered his services and helped the campaign group set up an online group on Facebook. Mr Turner ran the Facebook group for the campaign when Council Deputy Leader Stephen Knight tried to post information about the Council's scheme. He was instructed by the campaign's leaders to remove the information and block the councillor from the system. However, when he then contacted Stephen Knight for more information, he became aware that the Council's redevelopment proposals are not as the 'Save Our Riverside' campaign group had led him to believe:   

"I was taken in by what this group told me and I feel conned. I was led to believe that the Council was planning a large housing development for the riverside, but when you look at the actual plans that just isn't true. The proposals are published in the public forum and are widely available to anyone who wishes to see them. Despite what "Save Our Riverside" and other fringe groups have suggested, the reality is that very little housing is planned for the development - the vast majority of the Riverside area will be for an eco-friendly park and river centre, serving as a community hub whilst overlooking the beauty of Eel Pie Island and the Thames. The housing itself will only cover the back perimeter of the site whilst also being designed by an esteemed Eel Pie island architect who is credited for the neighbouring houses in Water Lane. As such the housing will play little part in the actual proposals and will blend in very nicely with the local area."

Richmond upon Thames Liberal Democrats: