The West Twickenham Lib Dem team: Cllrs Piers Allen, Helen Lee-Parsons and Lesley Pollesche

May 2010 Election %s: C 39.5; LD 48.2; L 12.3. LD 3.

• YOUR local Lib Dem team: Cllr Piers Allen [10 Selkirk Road, TW2 6PX 8898 1540 cllr.pallen@richmond.gov.uk] · · · • · · · Cllr Helen Lee-Parsons [40 Fielding Avenue, TW2 5LY 8287 7094 cllr.hlee-parsons@richmond.gov.uk] · · · • · · · Cllr Lesley Pollesche [108 Lyndhurst Avenue, TW2 6BU 07722 361 794 cllr.lpollesche@richmond.gov.uk]

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2012 news:

Page 2: Comments and news from 2010 - 2006

• [From Comments Winter 2011/12]: Golf Course Access Row: LAST year, the operators of Twickenham Golf Course (David Lloyd Hampton) announced an intention to restrict public access to the Golf Course, blaming an increase in vandalism to the Greens. Many residents and dog walkers made clear their dismay at this restriction. Your local Lib Dem Councillor Piers Allen immediately contacted the General Manager, Sue Moss, calling for proper consultation with residents and that the Club take advice from the Council's Community Safety Team.

Piers won agreement to postpone any such action, since which time Council Officers have been meeting with the Club to ensure they are operating within the lease agreement with the Council. Following a long period of legal consultation by the Club, It is hoped a meeting with Councillors will take place shortly with local and national managers of the David Lloyd Club, to discuss all the issues surrounding the concerns of residents and the Club, and to ensure that a coordinated and proportionate response results, including a discussion and consultation with residents.

Piers commented: "Council officers are very clear of the strong feeling of residents that they continue to have full access to walk on the golf course, as generations of families have enjoyed; I shall be arguing that, far from adding to security concerns, walkers can be an important part of solving anti-social behaviour and vandalism - but there is also much the Club can do to get their own house in order and repair strained community relations". Your Lib Dem Councillors have asked the Club to think again on self-defeating plans to restrict public access and instead work with the Council, the community and local residents.

• Road Safety Campaign: YOUR local Lib Dem Cllrs Helen Lee-Parsons, Lesley Pollesche, and Piers Allen say " We have a definite need for 20 mph zones in a number of roads in the ward, including the Crossroads, the Twining and Fielding and other estates." 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 traffic 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 at Richmond Council supports the changes, but they will not consider taking action unless more than 51 % of the households in a road formally agree to a 20 mph limit. Consultation is vital. If you want a 20 mph limit in your road, contact us to start a petition. Your Lib Dems Councillors will work with local residents to knock on each door in the road to give you a chance at getting this speed calming measure where you live. "Roads with schools or known problems will be our first priority" said Piers.

• Rat runs: YOUR local Lib Dem Councillors are also working with the local Safer Neighbourhood Team who are assisting by using random speed checks particularly in roads used as a cut through to avoid traffic. They are pressing the current Conservative-run administration to address this issue properly and will continue to do so. If you wish to nominate a road for speed checks, or are are willing to help collect names for a petition, please contact Lesley at cllr.lpollesche@richmond.gov.uk

• New Lease of Life froCommunity Centre: YOUR local Lib Dem Councillors Helen, Lesley and Piers have welcomed the joint efforts of the Community Engagement Team at Richmond Housing Partnership and the Council Youth Team to run a programme of activities from the Lisette Narain Community Centre in Glebe Gardens.

Currently Heathfields Children's Centre is running two sessions every week on Monday and Wednesday mornings for families and children, while the Council's Education, Cultural and Children's Services are running a session on Friday mornings for parents with children with ADHD and behavioural problems and Richmond Youth services are running a youth club for over 11 year olds every Wednesday evening. A number of social events and community events have also been held at the Centre, including several local Police surgeries.

"We are delighted things are progressing well on the Glebe Gardens estate" said local Lib Dem Councillor Helen Lee-Parsons, "and we look forward to encouraging residents in the restarting a residents' association." If you would like to get involved in these activities, please let Helen know so we can put you in touch with the appropriate council and community group partners.

• Top of the class: PUTTING pupils first: Our borough's primary schools have topped the national Key Stage 2 league tables for the tenth year running. Congratulations to all the pupils, teachers, parents and governors across the borough. What a fantastic achievement! In addition, Lib Dem Children & Families Minister Sarah Teather has ensured that our local schools are benefiting from £1,238,000 in Pupil Premium this year. Your Local Lib Dem Councillor, Piers Allen says, "This extra funding is helping to tackle inequality and enables schools to provide extra support for pupils to reach their full potential."

• Pavement Hazard? Tell the Council: THE Council is targeting shopping areas and places elderly people might visit - such as care homes and surgeries - for pavement improvements. This means pavements elsewhere will be neglected. However, the Council still has a responsibility to repair pavements when a fault has been reported. So do report any hazards - you can do this easily on the Council website, or by calling 8891 1411.

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2011:

• [From Comments Spring 2011]: Conservative Council Makes Front Line Cuts: THE Conservative Council have embarked on a savage programme of cuts despite having over £30 million lying unused in the Council bank account.

Richmond is also a relatively wealthy borough and so raises most of its funding locally from Council Tax, rather than relying on central government grants. This means that government funding cuts affect Richmond less than almost any other council in the country.

The cuts now being made are deeper than needed to freeze our council tax next year. As part of the cuts programme, the Conservatives have cancelled the re-location of Heathfield library and the library has now closed. The Council had received £750,000 from selling the old library site and over half was going to be used to pay for the relocation. The Conservatives are refusing to reinvest the £750,000 locally. Instead the money will go into making parking in controlled parking zones cheaper for owners of large cars.

• Day Centre Closures: A betrayal of trust: LOCAL residents have been left reeling after the Conservative Council announced it intends to press ahead with its damaging decision to close two specialist care centres in Twickenham and Hampton. Despite a 2,500 petition and recommendations by an independent task group, which outlined ways to save money and allow the day centres to remain open, the closures went ahead.

Liberal Democrat councillors also used special powers to invoke an extraordinary general meeting of Richmond Council so that the closures of the day centres could be discussed in the light of the council's large underspend this year and extra money coming into social care from the NHS. "Despite being asked to delay their decision and look at sensible alternatives to closure, the Conservatives remain determined to press ahead. It is disgraceful given that there is no immediate financial imperative to close the centres, " said Cllr Helen Lee -Parsons after the meeting.

• Keeping West Twickenham Residents Safe: LOCAL councillors have called for the Borough Commander to retain a dedicated community police presence in the area, in spite of cut backs. "The sight of local beat officers patrolling the patch is a great reassurance to local residents. They have also established excellent relationships with our young people, and had a great effect in tackling anti-social behaviour." said Cllr Polleche. "West Twickenham ward is one of the safest wards in London's safest borough - the Police Liason Group and your local councillors want it to stay that way," added Cllr Allen.

The local Police Liaison Group meets quarterly and consists of local residents, SNT police officers and councillors - the next two meetings, held at Waldegrave School, will take place on Wednesday 8 June and 21st September.

• Local Library Service For Sale? LIBRARIES in the borough could be privatised under the Conservative Council's privatisation plans. Following on from the decision to close one of the borough's libraries, the Conservative run Council is considering privatising the library service. Richmond Council has been carrying out a review into how it can change its delivery of library services, including outsourcing them to the private sector. "Libraries are a vital community resource. They should not be hived out to the private sector. The Council has a statutory duty to provide a library service," said local councillor Piers Allen. Cllr Helen Lee - Parsons added: "Libraries are not just places to borrow books but for many, particularly the elderly and those with young children, the centre of their community. Please let us know your views."

• Mayor Cancels Crossing: CONSERVATIVE Mayor of London Boris Johnson has cancelled a crossing planned for the A316. Following a rape in the underpass crossing between Jubilee Avenue and Meadway some years ago, we have been urging Transport for London (TfL) to provide a safe surface crossing. Finally, in the summer of last year, TfL agreed funding for an upgraded crossing and we met with Council officers, Tfl, the local police and Vince Cable MP to discuss siting. Mayor Boris Johnson has now vetoed the funding. "This is hugely disappointing news. We are urging local Conservative councillors to use their influence with the Mayor to reinstate funding," said Cllr Lesley Pollesche.

• Page 2: Comments and news from 2010 - 2006

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Cllr Piers Allen Tel: 8898 1540 E-mail: cllr.pallen@richmond.gov.uk

Roles: Chair, LBRuT Liberal Democrat Council Group; Planning Committee; Standards Committee; Richmond Music Trust.

I have lived in West Twickenham ward and been active in the community since 1991, serving on Trafalgar Junior School governing body for two consecutive terms from 1993-2004 and 2007-present and more recently Waldegrave School. First elected as one of three Liberal Democrats for West Twickenham ward in 2006 (and again in 2010), I have been particularly involved in the provision of new opportunities for young people as part of the refurbishment of Kneller Gardens and supporting improvements to Crane Park, as well as campaigning with colleagues and the MP for road safety improvements on main roads and in residential areas; working with the Police Safer Neighbourhood team to improve safety around our local schools; and representing individuals and groups of residents on planning and licensing issues.

From 2006-10, in my role as Assistant Cabinet member in Children's Services, I was privileged to participate in the Children in Care Council, a group led by young people to represent the interests of Children Look After in the borough. I continue to take an interest in this area, while looking out for the interests of all young people. I remain committed to serving my community and continuing to put something back into the community I and my family have lived in for over 20 years, championing the interests of residents and the ward.

Cllr Helen Lee-Parsons Tel: 8287 7094 E-mail: cllr.hlee-parsons@richmond.gov.uk

Roles: Elected 2006; Deputy Mayor 2007/2008; Mayor 2008/09; Committees-: Corporate Parenting; Health, Housing Social Care.; and Planning. Domestic Abuse Forum; governor at St James's Catholic School, Twickenham; Operate a club for people with learning difficulties: 'Look & Plan Club'.

My family and I have lived in Twickenham for 35 years. In preparation for this role I shall be retiring from Richmond Social Services, this will allow me to devote the time and energy that I feel the role deserves. My background is first and foremost with social services and in particular people with learning difficulties, principally supporting them in attaining the lifestyle they have chosen for themselves. My time as an outreach tutor for Clifden College has enabled me to become more aware of educational issues and budgetary restraints. It is my intention to continue to support those in the community who are vulnerable, whatever age or needs they may have. My experience within the community has been as a school governor, chair of a residents association, service on a youth club committee and a community health service. I have learned through my association with these voluntary services that consultation and the community are inseparable and should be prioritised in most processes where decisions are made.

Cllr Lesley Pollesche 07722 361 794; cllr.lpollesche@richmond.gov.uk

Lesley Pollesche has lived in West Twickenham since 1986; she is married with three children. She is proud to live in our borough and passionate to retain and improve the high standards that exist in our locality; she has a keen interest in education as she successfully put her children through Primary and Secondary schools in Twickenham. Lesley also wants to strengthen the commitment to environmental issues and to work hard to retain our record as a very safe London borough. She writes: "During my career at Heathrow Airport I developed a good understanding of the issues and concerns that affect many different people from all walks of life, which I hopes will serve me well on behalf of the residents of West Twickenham. On a personal level my outside interests are reading, walking and most important: my family."

. . working for you all the year round!

2010 results: Piers Allen LD 2586 elected; Helen Lee-Parsons LD 2550 elected; Lesley Pollesche LD 2249 elected; Tony Shoebridge C 2087; Karen Thurston C 2061; Nathaniel Ikeazor C 1914; Neil Browning L 660; Danny Freeman L 634.

Election, May 2006: Electorate 6,922 Seats 3 Ballot Papers 3,609 % Poll 52.1; Piers Allen LD 1610 Elected; Helen Lee-Parsons LD 1524 Elected; Munira Hassam LD 1497 Elected; Lance Quantrill C 1403; James Duckenfield C 1335; Alan Butler C 1321; Damien Egan L 472; Christian Richmond L 407; Matthew O'Mullane L 402.; Jonathan Modral G 385.

2002: Lance Quatrill C 1,321; Alan Butler C 1,318; Richard Hollis C 1,317; Michael Gold Lab 949; Graham Nixon Lab 860; Ian Thomson Lab 804; Martin Gould LD 532; Nigel Cook LD 526; Alan Juriansz LD 490.

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