North Richmond Liberal Democrats

2012 News:

2012 by-election: Stephen Speak C 1733 elected; Jane Dodds LD 1587; Brian Caton L 364; James Page G 206; M Cranfield-Adams I 123.

• North Richmond Ward By-election May 03: official result

• Page 2: Comments and news from 2010 - 2006

• 'No to Tory U-Turn on third runway at Heathrow' petition presented at Treasury [Apr 25]

• Jane Dodds: What we need is a new 5 form entry community school on the Clifden Road site [Apr 25]

• Tory 'Councillor for Barbados' resigns at last [Mar 23]

• Barbados-based councillor has claimed £3,133 in allowances since attending last meeting [Mar 16]

• Tory councillor Richard Montague has moved to Barbados but hasn't resigned [Feb 04]

2011 News:

• From Comments Winter 2011: Need to improve Richmond Station forecourt: Richmond council put on hold planned improvements to Richmond Station when the Conservatives took office in May 2010. Thousands of people use the station every day and the Liberal Democrat administration were ready to make changes to make the front of the station safe for rail and tube users. Nothing further was done, and only now, an almost identical scheme has just been agreed - 20 months later. Commuters and visitors to the town have had to put up with poor facilities for nearly two years, whilst the Tories have waited to put something in to action. The local Lib Dems will campaign strongly to ensure it doesn't take a further two years to get the vitally needed upgrades in place.

• NORTH Sheen footbridge delayed: Your local Liberal Democrat campaigners - Celia Hodges and Jane Dodds - fought long and hard, with the support of Richmond Park's former MP , Susan Kramer, to get a footbridge built at North Sheen station. The crossing was unsafe and dangerous, and Susan Kramer secured an agreement for the funding from Network Rail over a year ago. Although the design has just been agreed, it is understood that work on it will not start until June/July 2012, which may be subject to a delay due to the Olympics. This continued delay will mean more problems for pedestrians - 2 years after agreement was reached with the Liberal Democrats.

• WORKING to ensure Tesco doesn't upset balance: The flats above the art deco Café Matthiae in Kew Road have been completed; the ground floor frontage still remains boarded in anticipation of a Tesco Metro being opened. Work has been ongoing with planners and designers, and the latest news is that Tesco will need to make sure its signage is silver and white, rather than its usual red, blue and white. The local community look forward to hearing more about the development of the building and how local small shops and traffic flow will not be effected by the opening of the Tesco store.

• CAMPAIGN for 20 mph limits: The Government has just made it easier and cheaper for Councils to introduce 20 mph zones. This means that in residential areas, especially where road speeds are already below 24 mph because of road calming, narrow roads or heavy parking, roads can be designated 20 mph zones simply with signage at the beginning and end of the road and 20 mph roundels painted on the road surface.

The good news is that the current Conservative administration supports the changes, but the bad news is that they will not even consider taking action unless more than 51% of the households in a road formally agree to a 20 mph limit. While consultation is vital, response rates from householders are notoriously low, so a threshold of 51% would never be achieved. So, if you want a 20 mph limit in your road, contact us to start a petition, and we will knock on each door of the road.

Remember, the chances of a pedestrian being killed in a vehicle collision is 90% at 40 mph, 20% at 30 mph, and 3% at 20mph. Reclaim residential areas for the residents and protect your children and the elderly!

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Jane Dodds writes: "I HAVE lived in North Richmond ward with my husband for 4 years and work in the social care field in a national voluntary organisation. To me, Richmond has a unique character which I want to help preserve; its heritage, river frontage and green spaces as well as accessible leisure, library and shopping facilities are all worthy of careful management. I play the piano, swim and have an interest in the history of modern art."

Jane Dodds served as ward councillor from 2006 to 2010; for part of that time she was Council Cabinet Member for Performance.

Celia Hodges

I have lived in Richmond for 30 years. I am chair of governors at Darell Primary School and secretary of Manor Road allotments. I served as a Councillor in North Richmond after winning the by-election in January 2005 until May 2010.

Following my election some things have been achieved: the extension of the Cumulative Impact Policy along Kew Road, plastic bottle recycling, road safety measures along the A316. Other work-in-progress includes: dialogue with Network Rail re North Sheen footbridge, setting up Safer Neighbourhood status for the ward, continuing to battle for a solution to the mini-cab and traffic problems in the Trinity/Bardolph Road area.

2012 by-election: Stephen Speak C 1733 elected; Jane Dodds LD 1587; Brian Caton L 364; James Page G 206; M Cranfield-Adams I 123.

2010: Lisa Blakemore C 2624 elected; Richard Montague C 2531 elected; Katharine Robinson C 2435 elected; Jane Dodds LD 2416; Celia Hodges LD 2396; James Bertin LD 2267; Pamela Marder L 571; John Ward L 484; A N Other L 471.

2006: Celia Hodges LD 1649 Elected; Jane Dodds LD 1605 Elected; Marc Cranfield-Adams LD 1579 Elected; Philip Ingram C 1534; Mark Roscoe C 1509; Phillip Taylor C 1494; Derek Somers L 227; Enid Kimmerling Christian Peoples Alliance 111.

2002: Phillip Taylor C 1,335; Marc Cranfield-Adams C 1,313; Anthony Tresigne C 1,279; Alison Cornish LD 1,129; Nicholas Carthew LD 1,059; Celia Hodges LD 1,004; John Ward Lab 317; Maureen Metzger Lab 313; Judith Enright Lab 312; Raymond Perrin Ind 145; Jeremy Shadbolt UK Ind 123

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