SHRA Calls for Review of Planning Hearings
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www.shra.org.uk thebulletin Representing the views of all who live in the historic Thameside village of Strawberry Hill No. 137 July 2008 Royalty and Romance Sun shines on Strawberry Hill of St James’s Parish Music and Fun Day A charming and very readable history of St James's Church, Popes Grove, and the After a week of were whipped and lib growth of the Parish, has just been written nearly continuous erally applied to the by local resident Tom Devitt. rain, the clouds dis- home-made produce, Tracing the origins of the church from its appeared and the sun together with Chair- founding in 1885 to the present day, the book reveals the close links and encouragement came out for the man Bruce Duff’s which the church received from exiled royalty Strawberry Hill Mu- now-legendary choc- living nearby such as King Manoel of sic and Fun Day on olate sauce. Portugal, Louis Philippe of France and the Sunday 13th July. By 6 o’clock eve- Countess of Paris. SHRA’s strawber- rything had been sold Their gifts to the church can still be seen. ry-themed stall was and the Association A large section of the book details the art and stained glass. The church itself was the result well positioned in the was richer by £674. of a generous donation by a wealthy Catholic food area, next to a Secretary Clare convert. German sausage stall. Phelps organised the You can obtain copies of “The Parish of A large team of volun- helpers and the straw- St James, Twickenham, 1855-2008”, from the teers manned the stall,Joint-chairman Robert Youngs, Committee membersberry treats were all church porch, price £4.50 or £20 for five slicing 40 lbs of straw- Pam Crisp and Teresa Read man the stall while made by residents. copies, or by e-mail to: John Armstrong looks on berries and inserting The Committee [email protected]. A portion of the history can be seen on the them into sponge cakes, layering them on would like to thank local estate agents Mile- church website: shortbread, tartlets, pavlovas, millefeuille, stone and Collis for their generous sponsor- cheesecake, and fairy cakes. Pints of cream ship of our stall. www.st-james-twickenham.org.uk SHRA Calls for Review of Planning Hearings SHRA is responding to concerns follow- This threatens our ability to protect our ing a number of planning decisions, neighbourhood.” notably surrounding objections to de- Whereas an applicant can appeal velopments in Waldegrave Road, Gif- against rejection to the Planning Inspector- ford House and St James’s Church. ate, objectors can only appeal by applica- Residents have complained that the tion to the High Court, at great cost. procedure is biased against objectors and (See “Third planning request” on page 2) leaves too much decision making authority to council officers. Concerns have also Committee Changes been voiced about inadequate minute Jose Relton, Committee member with responsibility for planning matters, has keeping of committee planning meetings. resigned. The Chairmen and Committee Under the current procedure, a number would like to thank Jose for her hard work of objectors, usually about three, are per- and service to the area over many years. Reproduced by kind permission of Private Eye/ Clive Goddard mitted to speak for three minutes each. Design & Construction Proposers and their supporters also speak for three minutes, followed by a summing Soft Landscaping - up the planning officer. Patios- Driveways - Planning Committee members may ask Fencing - Water questions of both proposers and objectors, Features - Garden but neither may challenge statements made Walls by the planning officer. John Armstrong, SHRA Committee Fully Insured - Free Estimates member, says: “scrutinising and repre- Tel: 020 8890 4944 senting local parties over planning and Mob: 07738423429 development is a key function of our or- Email: ganization. We believe the planning hear- [email protected] ings and the appeals system, are flawed. Page 1 The Bulletin No. 137 July 2008 www.shra.org.uk Transport Strawberry Hill Post Office PROFESSIONAL Clare Head shadows Traffic Station Painting Stalled and Parking The refurbishment of the pedestrian bridge which began in January has now stalled and CENTRE Cllr Clare Head, who frequently attends SWT has not supplied a date for further work. Shirts, Ironing, SHRA Committee meetings, has been SWT engineers concluded the bridge needed appointed shadow cabinet member for structural repairs before painting and replace- Laundry, Curtains traffic, parking and transport on Richmond ment of rotten weatherboards could continue. Duvets, Tailor Repairs Council. The present unsightly chipboard is now likely SAME DAY SERVICE AVAILABLE Her brief covers the whole of the Borough. to remain in place for several months. OYSTER CARD, BUS PASS, TRAVEL CARD, Clare says that she is particularly conscious of Waiting room watch LOTTERY, CASH MACHINE, MOBILE TOP UP, the CPZ problem in Waldegrave Gardens, and PHOTOCOPY AND FAX will be fighting for residents seriously Residents report that the waiting room on Agent for Kings Dry Cleaning in inconvenienced by non-residents taking their the Richmond-bound platform is now open all Twickenham parking spaces. the time when the booking office is open. SHRA has raised the problem of waiting 80 Tower Road Her colleague, Cllr Marlow is pressing 020 8892 3293 council officers to expedite a new design for the room closures with SWT which has asked resi- dents to monitor the situation. parking outside the station. The world is your Oyster! Jay and Aparna Patel would like you to know that you Planning can now buy or top up your Oyster Card at the Post Gifford house land up for tion because the site is the location of historic Office and that they can Gifford Lodge. Work is currently taking place now supply US dollars on de sale soon mand. This means you can now pick up your on a party wall agreement because the Council travel money (Euros or dollars) without Residents living near to the Gifford House plans to build within 2.4 metres of the former ordering in advance. site have been told that the house and part of Willow Grange estate about, ten metres from the land will be put up for sale shortly. existing houses. AGM held at Golf Club The Contact Centre on the site will be relo- The sale of Gifford House was featured in cated to Mortlake during August. A new Con- a recent issue of Private Eye’s “Rotten Bor- oughs” section. The 2008 Annual General Meeting of the tact Centre will re-open on the Gifford House SHRA was held on Monday 14th April at site, possibly next year. In the meantime, the Third planning request for Strawberry Hill Golf Club. Judith Love- site will be gated and services disconnected. lace, Chair of the Friends of Strawberry A seven-week project to remove asbestos Waldegrave Road Hill, told the meeting about the current from the former Council-run Day Nursery SHRA and local Cllr Clare Head have spo- state of the restoration of Horace should be completed in time for demolition of ken out against a third development in Walde- Walpole’s “little Gothic Castle”. Gifford House to start in October. However, the Tricia Mckeown, Services Manager at grave Road opposite St Mary’s College. site has yet to undergo other scrutiny for con- Roy Kinnear House, was presented with a SHRA committee member John Armstrong tamination and for an archeological investiga- cheque for £300, the proceeds of the collec- and Cllr Head are particularly concerned by the tion at the Christmas Carol Singing together CAR SERVICING & REPAIRS style of the ‘brutal modern developments.” with a contribution from the Association’s They say: “In principle we are not against cer- funds. VOLVO tain houses being knocked down and used more Twickenham MP Vincent Cable, Cllr & intensively for housing. What is upsetting is Clare Head and prospective Conservative SUBARU outsiders imposing their ideas on the commu- candidate Deborah Thomas were among the nity which has spoken out against brutal mod- guests. Major items under discussion were & ern developments. Developers, architects and planning and traffic. Most other makes the planning committee should listen to local One resident raised concerns about St * plus * people and not impose their opinions.” Mary’s College hosting an Olympic team in Tyres, batteries, exhausts It is feared that light spillage from huge 2012 with attendant security issues and in- glass windows will drive away wildlife from creased police presence. Dr Cable has offered • Very Skilled Technicians help with the issue. • Great Value nearby gardens. • High Quality 020 8892 4440 ShaftesburyRAWLINSON Way, Wellesley & Road,WEBBER Spencer Road, Tower Road, Walpole Gardens, Preston Close, MKG 3000 Wellesley Crescent,72 Tower Road, Walpole Strawberry Road, Hill TW1 Popes 4PP Avenue, Tower Road, Strawberry Hill, TW1 4PP Vicarage Road, GrangeTel: 020 Avenue,8892 5442 Alexander Close, It pays to advertise Advertising income has funded the Popes Grove, Orford Gardens, Waldegrave Road and production of a better quality Bulletin. Buying or selling in Strawberry Hill? You may wish to support our advertisers. Gardens, Radnor Road, Holmes Road, Bonser Road, If you would like to advertise in the next issue, the rates are £5 per single column Riverview Gardens, Clive Road, Michelham centimetre. Call the local property experts For all advertising sales, please contact Gardens, Downside, Strawberry Hill Road and Close, Eugene Bacot at: Southfield Gardens,www.rawlinsonandwebber.co.uk Waldegrave Park, Hawkesley Email:[email protected] Tel: 020 7731 4526 Close, [email protected] Close, Field End, Upper Grotto Road Page 2 The Bulletin No. 137 July 2008 www.shra.org.uk Hundreds earnestly applaud an Friends of Strawberry enchanting picnic play Hill House An appeal has been launched to restore The first picnic theatre production to be the beautiful and historic Renaissance staged on the lawns of Strawberry Hill painted glass of Strawberry Hill House.