• [From Comments Winter 2010-11]: FOG Over The Tunnel: Right from the word 'Go', Liberal Democrats pressed for a local exhibition of Thames Water's proposals for the 'Super Sewer' and one of its main construction sites, atBarn Elms(Wandsworth) playing fields. It was vital that local people should be able to question the design team. Local people who visited the exhibition report that there was no official map of the proposed works access via Rocks Lane.

It was clear that: a hard-surfaced route following Beverley Brook from the Thames would have to go through Richmond fields, taking space from local sports activities for at least 7 years; an additional access beside the Rocks Lane bridge would bring yet more complications for the traffic flow here; and the noise of manoeuvring heavy vehicles would be a great source of disturbance to homes further away than just Rocks Lane. Lib Dem campaigner, Andrew Horsler said, "In common with many non-political local groups, we favour a route to Putney Lower Common, which would disturb far fewer residents. Liberal Democrats support them in their fight to change Thames Water's mind."

• OLYMPIC Studios: IN early October around 2,000 local residents, invited to the now-empty building, gave strong support to plans to convert the Olympic Studios in Church Road, Barnes into a boutique cinema. Built in 1906, the Studios had originally been a theatre and cinema for nearly 50 years before being adapted for recording purposes in the 1960s, serving groups such as the Rolling Stones and U2. The new owners hope to submit aplanning application to the Council very shortly. More information is available athttp://www.olympiccinema.co.uk.

• ROCKS Lane: Pedestrian improvements to Barnes station bridge area: Thanks to the efforts of local Lib Dem councillors who initiated this project in 2006, work will start very shortly to benefit pedestrians using Barnes Station. The north-side bus stop for buses travelling towards Hammersmith and Putney will be adjacent to a new pedestrian crossing and the footways both at the bus stop and leading up to the bridge station entrance will be substantially widened. The south- bound bus stop will remain in its existing location and there will be minor footway widening extending southwards to the junction with the A205. The works will involve piling works to the embankments adjacent to the Station. Advance warning signs giving details on all approaches to the area together with posting details will be issued on the Borough web site. TfL will also be releasing details to TV and Radio. A provisional start date in January has been proposed.

• OYSTER tickets: Lib Dems put pressure on SW Trains South West Trains are the only train operating company in London now refusing to sell Oyster tickets or provide Oyster top-ups for passengers. This was admitted by the Mayor of London in reply to questions put by Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London AssemblyGroup. The Mayor also admitted that South West Trains do not even have any plans to start selling Oyster tickets in the near future. Caroline has now written to Brian Souter, Chief Executive of the company that owns South West Trains, urging him to ensure that train passengers using the 44 stations in south west London receive the same service as those in every other part of London. "It is time South West Trains caught up with the other train operating companies in London and provided a proper service to their customers" she said.

• LOCAL academy opens its doors: Richmond Park Academy opened its doors for the first time this September. The Lib Dem administration worked hard to ensure thatShene School got the boost it needed by acquiring Academystatus. The final signing off was delayed by the General Election and it really is not quite clear why the final go-ahead arrived at the eleventh hour. The Lib Dems wish the Academy well and look forward to seeing it grow into the excellent community school our children deserve. Local campaigner Eleanor Stanier says, "It was a great relief when our plans came together. There is such a lot to build on at RPA, the new Academy is off to a flying start."

• Report to Planning Committee, April 01

• History of the site

• [April 05] PERMISSION granted for Bowling Green Site: Having considered representations from local residents, the planning committee last Thursday came down in favour of the development for the Old Bowling Green [App 09/1490/FUL] in William's Lane, Mortlake by a majority decision. In reality the committee had no choice: two independent counsel had advised that the land was not protected for leisure use under planning case law.

• [Apr 05] Academy status confirmed for Shene School

• [Apr 05] Lib Dems Welcome North Sheen Footbridge Planning Application

• [From Comments Spring 2010] MP CALLS for bus countdown timer at Hammersmith: Transport for London is still refusing to give passengers travelling by bus from Hammersmith a fair deal. Local MPSusan Kramer asked them to install a bus countdown timer in the corridor between the shopping centre and the outdoor bus shelter, so that passengers can wait in the warm for their bus.

• LOCAL people let down Conservatives refuse to back bid to kill off parkingcharges in Richmond Park for good Conservatives in the House of Lords refused to support a Lib Dem 'fatal motion' that was the only way to stop the Government's legislation. Local MPSusan Kramer said, "It was great to see so many people come to Westminster to make their voices heard. "But I am saddened that the Conservatives refused to join us to stop these charges once and for all." "I want local people to know that I'll keep on fighting tooth and nail to stop these plans."

• COMMUNITY toilet scheme: One of the popular initiatives started by the Liberal Democrats on Richmond Council has been theCommunity Toilet Scheme. 90 toilets in pubs, cafés, and offices around the borough are now open to the public. The Council pays the venue £600 a year to allow unrestricted access to the toilets. This is very much cheaper, and offers many more toilets, than the traditional public toilets, which are very expensive to maintain. Just look for the Community Toilet sign outside.

• 16 places in EAST SHEEN, MORTLAKE and BARNES have joined the scheme:Barnes Sorting Office Centre, Bull's Head, Caffe' al Fresco, East Sheen Cemetery, Hare and Hounds,Jolly Gardeners, L'Amandine, Leonardo Caffe, Leonardo Wine Bar,Palewell Common and Fields, Rocks Lane Tennis Pavilion, Sheen Common Pavilion, Sheen Lane Centre,Victoria Sheen, Vine RoadRecreation Ground, and Ye White Hart .

• The Borough's 90 Community Toilets

• [From Comments Winter 2009-10]: MORTLAKE Brewery update: The Liberal Democrat team are continuing to work to make sure the local community get the most from the Mortlake Brewery site. The Council will soon draw up planning guidelines to determine the future use of the brewery site. Merlene Emerson said, "The Council does not own the site, but the planning guidance will help shape the future use of the site. "It is really vital that residents make their views known to shape theplanning guidance, so please do make sure that we know your views." So far you have asked the Council to: . . . Guarantee that the playing fields are retained . . . Protect historic buildings on the site, possibly as a museum of brewing and tapestry history. . . . Explore the possibility of green technology business on the site to create local jobs. . . . Make sure there is affordable housing not just luxury housing . . . Give space for public services including community centre health centre and primary school. . . . Give better access both to and along the river. . . . Minimise the traffic impact on the surrounding area. . . . Shift the bus station from Avondale Road to the brewery site.

• RAILWAY side walls: Richard Pyne reports... "Residents have told the Lib Dem team that the walls around the railwayline between Sheen lane and White Hart Lane are starting to deteriorate. Vegetation is coming through in many places creating an eyesore. We are calling on Network Rail to replace the walls, preferably using soundproof material to reduce the noise experienced by local residents.Susan Kramer MP has written to Network Rail to raise the issue, and involved engineers from the Council. We will keep you posted developments.

• 33 BUS to go 24 hour?: Transport for London is consulting on converting the33 bus to a 24 hour service, running every half an hour through the night. The current N10 service would be withdrawn, with the 10 bus converted to 24 hours from Kings Cross to Hammersmith. The Liberal Democrat team think that this new bus service would make it much easier for local people to travel home late at night. If you support these plans please let us know.

• SHENE School to become an Academy: Last summerShene School achieved its best ever GCSE results for many years. Plans for millions of pounds of investment in the newacademy are progressing with the appointment ofAcademies Enterprise Trust as sponsor. The Trust has a strong record of transforming educational standards in schools. Cllr Anna Davies who is a governor at Shene said, "I am delighted that we have found such a high quality partner to sponsor the school." "We will also work with a local university and independent school to strengthen the team." The next step is for the Council to approve the "Expression of Interest" document, which contains the vision for the newAcademy, and it is hoped that it would open in September 2010.

• SHENE School bus: Susan Kramer renewed the call for a school bus for Shene School at a cross-party meeting with Transport for London. But the Mayor of London is still refusing to give Shene School a dedicated bus service. In the meantime, Susan Kramer has got TfL to agree to investigate a new option. TfLwill look at terminating two 33 buses from the normal route at Waitrose at the end of the school day. The buses would then collect children from inside the school grounds at Shene and continue the route to Hammersmith. It is hoped that this will help alleviate some of the overcrowding at the end of the school day.

• [From Comments May 2009]: STAG Brewery closure - update: Thanks to everyone who came along to the public meeting on the Stag Brewery in February. Representatives from the Brewery were on hand to answer questions and listen to local views. Many people wanted to see brewing continue, and were concerned about the loss of jobs. Concerns were also raised about the impact of the plans on local traffic, and about the need for buses to serve the site. Susan Kramer said, "I will now be travelling to Belgium to meet with InBev directors face to face to pass on your views." Cllr Eleanor Stanier has reported your views to the Council officers who are now drawing upplanning guidance for the site.

• PRIORITIES for the Brewery site: Top of the list of concerns was the protection of the playing fields. Mixed use of the site, including employment opportunities rather than all housing. A community centre and affordable housing. High rise blocks and gated communities would be out of keeping and unacceptable. Any new housing would require a new primary school and other public services. Any development should reflect the brewery and tapestry-making history of Mortlake. Public access to the river should be enhanced and maintained.

• WHITE Hart Lane Roadworks: The Thames Water continue the programme of replacing old Victorian Water Mains is shortly to move to White Hart Lane. Following a meeting with traders, the work was pushed back to start on 11th May. This means the roadworks avoided the busy Easter period that is so important for local shops. Every effort will be made to keep the parking spaces open where possible so that shoppers can continue to visit local shops, and disruption is kept to a minimum. It is anticipated that the works will take around twelve weeks, with traffic diverted via Rocks Lane. Do contact the Lib Dem team if you have any questions.

• RAILWAY Side dog fouling: After being contacted by a local resident, Cllr Anna Davies took up the issue of dog fouling at Railway Side. The Council has now agreed to move the footpath cleaning machines from the town centres once a week to clear footpaths near schools. This would mean that the area would be cleaned more often. The local Safer Neighbourhood Team have also been clamping down on owners who do not clear up after their pets. Cllr Anna Davies is happy to take action in any other areas where this is a problem.

• [From Comments January 2009]: WHAT future for the Stag Brewery? Local people were shocked to hear that after hundreds of years brewing in Mortlake, the Stag Brewery is set to close. The owner of the brewery has announced that it plans to close the site by 2010. Susan Kramer MP said, "It would be a real loss to see part of our industrial heritage lost." Susan Kramer MP, Leader of the Council Serge Lourie and local councillors are meeting representatives of InBev who own the brewery to discuss whether there are any options to keep it open.

• SHEEN Lane Roadworks - Businesses open as usual: It is anticipated that the work will go on for up to 13 weeks, but that the road will only be closed for part of that time, while work is being done close to the railway line. Traders have expressed concern about the closure and the fact that signs discourage customers from coming to the area. The Council has agreed to review signage and re-word where appropriate. Susan Kramer MP said, "I know all parties are working together to keep disruption to a minimum while these works are being done." "I would also like to encourage local residents to continue to support their local shops during this period."

• TOWN Centre Manager for Barnes: Cllr Anna Davies said: "I am delighted that the Council has agreed to fund a town centre manager for Barnes. "We desperately need someone who will be able to promote Barnes as a local shopping centre" Sue Nicholl started work in Barnes at the beginning of January. Town Centre Managers help support our local shopping areas and local shops. When the Conservatives ran the Council they scrapped all but one of the town centre managers in the borough.

• EAST Sheen Post Office re-opens:Susan Kramer had many meetings and phone calls with the Post Office and the utilities companies in order to get the Post Office re- opened.Susan Kramer MP said: "Local people have had to put up with so much inconvenience since the Post Office closed in May - it should never have taken this long to get it re-opened." "Thanks for your patience everyone!"

• PROGRESS Report: The Mortlake CPZ was finally agreed in spring 2008. Its implementation was delayed because of utility works but when it arrived in summer 2008 the feedback from residents was instantly positive. There is a review of it starting shortly, again delayed because of more utility works in the area, and councillors are confident that, though there may be some fine tuning of hours, the CPZ is a success.

• OUR manifesto promised more resources for our young people. The Power station in Mortlake is offering a variety of activities in answer to everyday needs and holiday activities. We also promised a better deal for our secondary school students. The academy status is proceeding well in Hampton and Whitton Schools but is delayed at Shene School because of a question mark about the financial probity of http://www.edutrust.org/>Edutrust, the chosen sponsor. Meanwhile under the new head teacher the results are improving and local parents have formed an action group to encourage others to use the school. We promised an environmental programme that conserves energy and preserves and enhances our green spaces. A huge programme of better use of energy in council run buildings, in insulating homes and in managing our green spaces has been followed and Barnes Common is applying for Green Flag Award status.

• Most residents in Mortlake can also recycle plastic and cardboard from their homes. We are looking to see if those in flats without land can do the same. Your councillors are working with local organizations such as the Mortlake Community Association to draw resources into our ward. Successful partnerships with the PCT, St George's Mental health Trust, the Safer Neighbourhood Team and local charities ensure that our residents' needs are met. We are keeping watch over the brewery site, the Williams Lane site and we have already made improvements to Mortlake Green.

• [January 17 2008]: A MULTI-MILLION pound scheme to regenerate public sports facilities in Barnes will gather pace next week when Richmond Council' Cabinet is invited to select four firms to submit proposals for the redevelopment of Barn Elms. In September the Council announced plans to fund huge improvements to the pitches and facilities by selling a small proportion of the site to a developer of a health and fitness centre. Seven expressions of interest have been received, from which four firms are being invited to submit outline proposals for the site. The scheme would improve pitch layouts and drainage, deliver more adult and mini football pitches and brand new changing facilities.

• January 2008: £2m ENVIRONMENTAL improvements planned for five areas of the borough: Richmond Council's Cabinet is being recommended to approve spending of £2 million on the schemes over the next three years at its meeting on January 14. Shopping parades and other public spaces have been identified as the priorities for the five areas: Castelnau; MORTLAKE; Ham; the Hampton Nurserylands; and Heathfield. These have been identified in the Community Plan as being the borough's five areas of relative deprivation.

• From COMMENTS July 2007: Lib Dems invest in local services : After one year the Liberal Democrats are investing millions of pounds in key services for local people. Money from Council Tax reserves is being invested in improving secondary schools, the environment and facilities for young people. Despite already being the lowest spending council in London, the Liberal Democrats have managed to make additional savings of over £4.5m to keep Council Tax down and pay for key service improvements. The increase in Council Tax was only 0.3% above inflation compared to the Tories who in 2003 increased total Council Tax by 15.6% (12.7% above inflation).

• MP demands council tax fair deal: Ministers have sparked anger amongst local residents by cutting Richmond and Kingston's grant from central government, forcing up council tax and threatening local services. Richmond Park MP has hit back with a new campaign for a fair Council Tax deal for Richmond Park constituency, launching it with a debate in the House of Commons in February. Speaking in Parliament Square to a rally of local residents who travelled to Westminster to back the campaign, Susan Kramer said "Richmond is already the worst funded borough in London. This latest cut is an insult to tax payers. Richmond is one of the best value for money boroughs in the country but because of government cuts it has been forced to increase Council Tax." For 2007/2008 Richmond received £126.08 funding per head of the population compared to £499.75 for the average London borough. While Richmond received just £24 m neighbouring Hounslow and Fulham received £110.06 m and Wandsworth a staggering £136.9 m. Councillor Anna Davies said "Please sign our petition against this unfair tax at www.susankramer.org.uk". Council tax was introduced by the Conservatives and has been supported by Labour. The Lib Dems believe it is an unfair tax and should be scrapped.

• TORIES slammed over night flight claims: The Conservatives have found themselves in hot water with anti- Heathrow campaigners after making false accusations against local MP Susan Kramer in their literature. They falsely claimed that Susan voted against lifting a night flight ban in the House of Commons. This was completely untrue. Chair of independent anti-aviation group HACAN, John Stewart, set the record straight in a letter to the local papers (See right). The consultation on Heathrow expansion has been delayed yet again until September. To receive updates and to say "No 2More planes" register at www.susankramer.org.uk

• WHITE Hart Lane - Update: Residents have voted resoundingly against the proposed Sainsbury's supermarket in a referendum organised by the White Hart Lane Action Group (WHAG). 4,756 of the 7,721 residents consulted responded to the referendum. 85.5% voted against, 14.5% voted for. The vote is not legally binding but it is hoped that Sainsbury's will listen to the strength of opinion and withdraw from the site. The application for a supermarket was turned down by Richmond Council and opposed by Liberal Democrat MP Susan Kramer, residents and local councillors. But this decision was over-turned by the Secretary of State under planning rules which give more powers to developers than local communities. Sainsburys have written to residents expressing their good will. Cllr Anna Davies said "We hope that Sainsbury's will listen to the views of local people and withdraw. But should they push ahead we will continue to work to minimalise the effect of the supermarket on the local community."

• LOCAL news in brief: Bus from Barnes to Kingston Hospital: Liberal Democrat campaigners and Susan Kramer MP have written to TFL to press for a bus from Barnes to Kingston Hospital. Cllr Eleanor Stanier said "Thank you to everyone who signed the petition to have a direct bus service to Kingston Hospital , linking together Barnes, Queen Mary's Hospital, Asda, Kingston University and Kingston Hospital. It has been given to the Mayor of London."

• SPENDING on cycle routes doubled: Spending on the borough's cycle routes is to double this year under the Lib Dems. Safety improvements have already been approved for the Hammersmith Bridge/Lonsdale Road link and more are in the pipeline. Residents welcomed the news. Under the Conservatives £161,000 of free TFL grant money was left unspent causing uproar among cyclists and environmental groups.

• RECYCLING improvements: Doorstep plastic bottle and cardboard recycling is being introduced in November. The Lib Dems are also currently trialing recycling for small businesses and shops. More than 100 businesses have already signed up to weekly collections of cardboard, paper and mixed glass. Approximately 12% of waste produced nationally comes from commerce compared to 9% for domestic households.

• RICHMOND tops 'value for money' lists: Lib Dem Richmond Council is among the best in the country for providing value for money services for local residents says the latest Audit Commission Report. The January 2007 findings also state that overall satisfaction with the Council is improving under the Lib Dems.

• FEBRUARY 2007: Thanks to action from Cllrs Davies, Mcleod and Stanier, Priests Bridge CCTV will remain in operation despite threats to remove the camera to another location. Cllr Anna Davies said "This is good news for local residents and shopkeepers who have been plagued with anti-social behaviour and even armed crime in recent months. While CCTV is never going to be a silver bullet, at least it should act as a deterrent to some criminals".