The Ham, Petersham & Richmond Riverside Lib Dem team: Cllrs David Williams, Sue Jones and Brian Miller

YOUR local Lib Dem team: Cllr David Williams [8 Arlington Road, Petersham TW10 7BY 8940 9421 cllr.dwilliams@richmond.gov.uk] · · · • · · · Cllr Sue Jones [58 Lock Road, Ham 8940 8290 TW10 7LN cllr.sjones@richmond.gov.uk] · · · • · · · Cllr Brian Miller [18 Breamwater Gardens, Ham TW10 7SQ 8255 7390 cllr.bmiller@richmond.gov.uk].

May 2010 Election %s: C 41.5; LD 45.9; L 7.2; G 3.9; I 1.6. LD hold. Please scroll down for details of Sue Jones, Brian Miller and David Williams.

2011 News:

• [From Comments #214 Spring 2011] HAM Rifle Club phone mast? Sue Jones and David Williams are refighting a battle we thought we had won. But the mobile phone companies are persistent. After three refused applications in 2006, 2007 and 2009, the phone companies have made a fresh application to install a 20m (66 feet) high mobile phone mast at Ham and Petersham Rifle Club. Plans for application 10/3356/FUL can be seen at Ham Library.

The mast, disguised as a cypress tree, is in a similar position to the previous applications. Sue says, "After looking at the plans and the mock up photos, I remain convinced that a 20m mast is out of keeping with the area, which has few high trees close by. It will be a disruption to the open view across Ham Lands, and I have objected to the application. I urge all those who will be affected by the proposed mast, particularly in Riverside Drive, to look at the plans. Comments and objections should reach the Council by 18 December."

• WHAT do you think? Sue Jones, Brian Miller and David Williams, as your local councillors, are always keen to hear your views about local issues and problems. One of the ways we do this is holding public consultation meetings. We have done this twice a year for a long time, but the new Council has cancelled all the Area Consultation Meetings, held since 1984. So we've decided to consult you anyway, even if we have to pay for these meetings ourselves!

• TELL us your Views: Do you have views on local issues? Do you have views on the articles in this newsletter? Or would you like to raise another issue with us? Please come to our ward consultation meeting on Wednesday 15 December at St. Thomas Aquinas church hall at 8 pm. The hall is in Ham Street, by the junction of Lock Road. If you want to contact us direct, please ring, email, write or call.

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• HAM Working Together: One of the big successes in engaging local residents has been Ham Working Together. This was set up in 2003 by the Council, the local health service and Richmond Housing Partnership, and was chaired for the first few years by Sue Jones. All the local public services joined in, and a community development worker organised many successful projects in Ham and Petersham.

Lucy Byrne was responsible for the mosaic project involving hundreds of children and adults. Becky White, who took over when Lucy was promoted, ensured Ham and Petersham SOS kept going and expanded its activities from driving elderly and vulnerable people to shops, doctors, hospitals, etc. The greatest achievement was getting the Children's Centre built, largely with Government money, in Ashburnham Road.

• AT RISK: Sadly, a lot of this is at risk because the new Conservative Council has stopped the funding for the five Working Together groups in the borough, and worse did not renew the contract for the community development workers. Some of the Working Together groups are continuing regardless without Council funding, and the Chair of Ham Working Together has called a meeting for December. But replacing the community development worker will be much more difficult.

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• STAR AND GARTER HILL: Never one to miss a useful opportunity, David managed to raise local issues with Transport for London, who held a fringe meeting at the Liberal Democrat autumn conference at Liverpool. The Mayor of London has consulted on removing "unnecessary" traffic lights, with the aim of "keeping traffic moving." One set suggested was those at the bottom of Star and Garter Hill. David strongly objected to this. It would be seriously unsafe to take these lights away. Vehicles and particularly cyclists from Richmond would have problems turning right into fast downhill traffic. Also the lights regulate the traffic well, and probably "keep traffic moving" better. Fortunately this daft and dangerous idea seems to have been dropped.

• THE HOUSE THAT NEVER WAS: Sue Jones has been pressing the Council for two years to do something about the eyesore in Dukes Avenue, Ham. In 2005 planning permission was given for a new house at the side of the existing house, but when building started it did not conform to the planning consent. So building stopped. The company then failed, and a half built house has been here ever since!

Sue got the Council to find the current owners. The old house was then sold, and is now occupied at last. However, the eyesore of a partially built house remains. This has been fenced off from the original house, but no work has started. Sue commented, "Whether building can continue from what is there now, or the whole lot has to demolished to start again from scratch is unknown. But this is an eyesore on a prominent site which can't stay in the mess it is."

• TERRACE GARDENS: The gardens continue to be one of joys of Richmond. The new housing project on the adjoining land has now begun. Brian and David have been working with both neighbours and interested local residents to ensure that the gardens are not adversely affected during the works, and that the tree works being carried out at the same time have no harmful effects

• GREY COURT SUCCESS: The school continues to go from strength to strength with excellent GCSE exam results this year, and with its community based schemes. The Grey Court Community Chickens project has won funding from 'The People's Millions' in the face of stiff competition. Grey Court pupils will be caring for the chickens, and eating the eggs. The scheme can be extended to include local primary schools. Brian, a long standing Grey Court governor commented, "This is an excellent idea, giving the pupils the confidence to gain skills outside the classroom. The pupils and staff have deservedly been rewarded for their hard work and enthusiasm."

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• Page 2: Comments and news from 2010 - 2006

Cllr Sue Jones 8940 8290 cllr.sjones@richmond.gov.uk

Roles: Co-ordination, Finance and Performance Commission; Area Consultation Meetings; Community and Police Partnership; Standards Committee; Grants Panel; London Councils (formerly ALG) - Health and Social Care Forum & Housing Forum; Museum of Richmond Management Committee; Petersham Common Conservators; Petersham Trust.

Born in Lawrence Road, Ham, and have been a resident in this ward for nearly all of my life. I have two children, both of whom went to local schools, The Russell & Grey Court, then on to Richmond College and then university. I have representated Ham, Petersham & Richmond Riverside Ward, with my Liberal Democrat colleagues for the last 18 years. I have worked on various committees in my tenure, Education, of which I was Vice Chair, Social Services with a key interest in the elderly, Leisure Services, Strategy & Resources. I have been Chair of Overview & Scrutiny Strategy & Resources committee and I am at the present time Chair of Overview & Scrutiny of Social Care & Housing. I also have strong links with many local groups, the Ham & Petersham Police Liaison Group, the Ham Pond Refurbishment Group, the Ham Common Woods Group, looking at protecting and enhancing the many green areas of our Ward, and the Working Together Group for Ham, looking at regeneration and revitalising services in the community of Ham. I am a governor of Meadlands Primary School and play a full and active part in the local community.

Cllr Brian Miller 8255 7390 cllr.bmiller@richmond.gov.uk

Roles: Co-ordination, Finance and Performance Commission; Planning Committee (Chair); Regulatory Committee; Transport Consultative Group; Environment Agency Floodscape Project Steering Group; Environment Agency Thames Region Regional Flood Defence Committee; Petersham Common Conservators; Richmond Theatre Trust.

Brian has lived in Richmond for over 25 years and has been a Councillor since 1990 for Richmond Hill and Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside Wards He has chaired the Education, Transport and Planning Committees and this reflects his interests in Council affairs. He is a Governor of the Russell, Grey Court, which his four children attended, and the German School for six years all in Ham & Petersham. He has strong and active links with local Community Groups and is Chair of the Ham & Petersham Youth Club Committee. After a career in international marketing, Brian is now the administrator of the Petersham Trust, which is responsible for the care of Petersham Meadows.

Cllr David Williams 8940 9421 cllr.dwilliams@richmond.gov.uk

Roles: Community and Police Partnership; Local Government Association (General Assembly); London Councils (formerly ALG) - Grants Committee; Petersham Common Conservators.

Councillor for Ham and Petersham since 1974, Lib Dem group leader in 1978, Leader of the Council from 1983 to 2001, and leader of the Lib Dems on the Local Government Association from 1996 to 2001. Moved to Ham in 1966 and then to Petersham in 1987. Worked in the computer/IT industry all my working life. Led the fight to save Ham Lands from development in 1983. Stop the Government selling off Pembroke Lodge in Richmond Park in 1987. Interests are book collecting, particularly about Lloyd George, and jazz record collecting. Knighted in 1999 for services to local government and the Local Government Association.

. . working for you all the year round!

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Election 2010: Susan Jones LD 2490 elected; Brian Miller LD 2183 elected; David Williams LD 2135 elected; Mark Brand C 2126; Sarah Tippett C 2017; Jean Loveland C 2011; Karen Hardy G 581; Lynne Hall L 424; Daniel Marder L 338; Doreen Masters L 308; Peter Dul UKIP 231.

2006: Electorate 6571 Seats 3 Ballot Papers 3426 % Poll 52.1; Susan Jones LD 1999 Elected; Brian Miller LD 1821 Elected; David Williams LD 1806 Elected; David Sparrow C 1161; Ronan McCarthy C 1120; Robert Thompson C 1037; Anita McMahon G 323; David Jeffery UKIP 168; Doreen Masters L 160; Pamela Risner L 158.

2002: Susan Jones LD 1,401; David Williams LD 1,294; Brian Miller LD 1,291; David Sparrow C 918; Pamela Fleming C 907; Ronald Proctor C 898; Richard Meacock Ind 370; John Perry Ind 314; Teresa Vanneck-Surplice Ind 295; Frank Cooper Lab 243; Pamela Risner Lab 232; Carole Tonkinson Lab 223

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