Council Leader fails to allay Heatham House fears - sign the petition now! (Twickenham & Richmond Liberal Democrats)

Council Leader fails to allay Heatham House fears - sign the petition now!

July 9, 2011 4:32 PM

• [Jul 08] FEARS that Heatham House youth centre in Twickenham will be sold off to private developers were increased this week when Tory Council Leader Nick True refused to rule the scenario out. In response to a question put to him at Tuesday's Council meeting by Liberal Democrat cllr Ellen Day, Cllr True first tried to deny the existence of the proposal, only to then admit it was under consideration and refuse to rule it out.

Cllr Stephen Knight, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Richmond Council, said: "Heatham House is a beautiful historic building with extensive grounds and has been the jewel in the crown of the borough's youth service for more than 60 years. Generations of young people have grown up loving the place and the proposal to evict the youth club in order to sell off the house for a hotel or private mansion has horrified Twickenham residents."

Cllr Gareth Roberts writes: "THERE is currently an online petition on the iPetitions website which has been gaining a great deal of support. However owing to the Council's rules regarding online petitions the iPetitions is inadmissible if it is to be used to force a debate on the issue at Full Council. The only online petition which is deemed acceptable by the council is the one which has been launched on the council's website:

http://www.richmond.gov.uk/home/council_government_and_democracy/petitions/online_petitions/epetitions.htm

If you want to support the Save Heatham House campaign online then you need to ensure that you sign the petition on the council's website, even if you have already signed another online petition."

• 'Information and rules relating to online petitions:

. . Petition types:

Call for a Council debate - 1000 signatures are needed for it to be acted upon; or 5% of the population from a single ward, if the matter relates to a single ward issue.

Call for a senior Council officer to give evidence at an overview and scrutiny committee meeting - 750 signatures for the petition to be acted upon.'

• Friends of Heatham House

• Tories fail to deliver promised youth facilities [Jul 01]