The South Richmond Lib Dem team (Facebook): John Roberts, Marina Solin, Penny Lee, Jill Grist and David Martin

• YOUR local Lib Dem contacts: (from left to right) John Roberts, Marina Solin, Penny Lee, Jill Grist and David Martin [71a Princes Road, TW10 6DQ 8948 1053 davidrossmartin@blueyonder.co.uk]. Email the team at southrichmondlibdems@gmail.com. May 2010 Election %s: C 54.1; LD 37.5; L 8.5; G 0; I 0. C hold.

2011 News:

• From Comments Winter 2011: BAA (British Airports Association) are starting the first three month trial this month (November), to measure the effects of ending runway alternation, landing aircraft at the same time on the two runways and using them more efficiently. The second trial is due during the Olympics in 2012. Local residents are understandably concerned about the loss of quiet mornings or afternoons that runway alternation provides. BAA claim that the trials will not lead to any more flights and should reduce emissions from aircraft stacking; BAA point out that the trial period will discover the impact on local residents. Let us know how it affects you: southrichmondlibdems@gmail.com or for more information go to: www.hacan.org.uk.

• TRAVELODGE Concerns: The proposal to demolish Premier House in Paradise Road and build a Travelodge in its stead has raised concern in neighbouring roads such as Halford Road and the Hermitage about possible traffic, parking and night noise problems. We therefore checked with the Council: the planning application is not yet in. If and when one is received we will consult residents on their views.

• WORKING hard for Queens Road: Residents have complained of a serious traffic block in Queens Road. We checked and found that the double yellow lines below Queens Court had faded so as to be almost invisible. Traffic was parking on both sides of the road, causing serious hold-ups, particularly on the bend at the bottom. At the same time, coincidentally the road has been resurfaced from Richmond Hill to Marchmont Road. When the double yellow line on this stretch are reinstated we have asked the Council to also reinstate the lines from Marchmont Road to the bottom. They have promised to do this right away.

• WINTER Warmth: If you are a house owner or rent a flat privately and also receive a benefit such as housing benefit, you may be eligible for a grant from a six-Council organisation called Coldbusters. With the grant you can install cavity loft and wall insulation, which will considerably cut down your heating bills. If you think you may be eligible, call 0800 358 6668

• RICHMOND Chamber of Commerce occupies lacklustre offices on Richmond Road, Twickenham. Don't be fooled, however. This is totally at odds with their purposeful CEO Anne Newton and colourful array of different networking events on offer to members. The Chambers has been going since 1901 and used to be mainly small businesses but now it includes all businesses including the likes of Ebay, big retailers and local colleges. Anne, the CEO, has a wide range of corporate skills including marketing; she is making sure that the Chambers is looking to growth.

They are proud of their events calendar that boasts networking and learning for large and small, from sessions at local haunts such as the Tea Box to glitzy soirees at the Bingham and Lensbury. They give valuable and confidence building experience to young people too, particularly important at the current time of high youth unemployment. The main issue for businesses at the moment is around access to finance. Richmond Council too are 'business friendly', Anne says, however, businesses have continuing concerns around disruption to trading caused by local road works. Despite the gloom in the global economy, local initiatives led by the Chamber are getting businesses together through social media, online sector Forums and mentors for small businesses - there is help for those going for growth. For more information look on www.richmondchamberofcommerce.co.uk.

• SUPPORT the Environment Trust: The Environment Trust is dedicated to conserving and maintaining those sites in the borough which we value and want to keep. Among these is the Vineyard Passage Burial Ground (VPBG). Trust members have, since the 1990s, cared for the Ground, raised money to repair the tombs and created an attractive garden where you can sit. As Cathy Thomas the group leader puts it "the VPBG is part of the daily lives of many people living in Richmond as they pass through on their way to the station or the shops or sit and rest under the shade of the trees."

If you would like to join Cathy's group or receive information about people buried in the VPBG, contact her on vineyardpassageburialground@gmail.com; if you would like to take part in the work of the trust generally, call 8891 5455 or email office@environmenttrust.co.uk

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• [April] Cuts for the sake of cutting: EVEN with a council tax freeze next year Richmond Council's finances are healthy with reserves of over £50m and a massive surplus last year of £4.5m. The Government's cuts in local government grants reduce Richmond's spending power by only 0.6%, far less than elsewhere. Considerable savings are of course needed, but why such deep cuts in front line services this year?

The Tory Council's programme of cuts is indeed far deeper than necessary and would mean another large surplus again this year. They have built in over £3.5m of one-off projects; welcome enough, but hardly justifiable when there are such sharp cutbacks to front-line children's and youth services, when Heathfield Library, Twickenham Intensive Daycare Centre and Tangley Hall, with its excellent dementia service are to be closed, and the new charges for social care treat people on Disability Living Allowance so unfairly.

Lib Dems on the Council unsuccessfully proposed budget changes, which would save front line services, while still avoiding a rise in this year's council tax. How much more ideological 'shrinking of the state' must we expect? Finding new, less costly, perhaps innovative ways to provide services the community needs is one thing, but do Richmond people really want cuts for the sake of cuts?

• Proud record of school investment: THE Liberal Democrat Council administration invested heavily in new school buildings and these projects are now progressing well. In Phase I the £7m project to expand Holy Trinity primary school is well under way and should be finalised by May. In Phase II Lowther School is being expanded to two forms of entry and this £3.2m project should be finished by September 2012.

Because of limited space, two groups of three schools have agreed to share the expansion process. Seven extra classrooms are needed for each group for a full form of entry and are to be shared between the three schools in the group. The two groups are: 'St. Osmund's, St. Mary Magdalen's and St. Elizabeth's' and 'Marshgate, The Vineyard and Sheen Mount'. Both groups took their first intake last September.

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Page 2: Comments and news from 2010 - 2006

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2010 results: Frances Bouchier C 3000 elected; Pamela Fleming C 2964 elected; Thomas O'Malley C 2810 elected; David Martin LD 2074; Morag McKinnon LD 2011; Tanya Williams LD 1994; Stephen Bennett L 533; Brian Caton L 435; Sam Houston L 411.

2006: Electorate 6880 Seats 3 Ballot Papers 3460 % Poll 50.29; Frances Bouchier C 1674 Elected; Pamela Fleming C 1636 Elected; Rodney Bennett C 1588 Elected; Andrew Pilkington LD 1489; Tanya Williams LD 1451; Saiful Islam LD 1382; Owen Roberts G 500; Margaret Robson L 219.

2002: Francis Bouchier C 1,322; Rodney Bennett C 1,305; Carolann Van Dinter C 1,232; Penelope Lee LD 1,121; Josephine Summers LD 1,061; Peter Talbot LD 1,002; Alan Laird Lab 355; Rachel Douglas Grn 326; John Norris Grn 242; Fred Lightfoot Grn 223

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