Having read the recent Planning Inspector's decision on the future of the Diamond Jubilee Gardens and Twickenham Riverside, I accept that the Council now has a mandate to proceed.

However, while the Inspector accepts that the project is broadly consistent with the Local Plan, in my judgement the project is unlikely to live up to the repeated promises made by the local Liberal Democrats.

Twickenham has a unique working riverside environment where the town meets the countryside. This scheme will fundamentally alter the character of the area, urbanising it and threatening the livelihoods of those working in the boatyards.

Local businesses have already told me that parking arrangements in Twickenham are inadequate, which has resulted in them losing many long-standing customers. The proposal to remove 82 on-street parking places from the Riverside is only going to exacerbate this problem, piling more pressure on local businesses, residents and those who are elderly and disabled.

The Council trumpets that 24 affordable housing units will be delivered, but that will not even touch the sides of local housing demand. And these units, which have been segregated from the private flats, will only be realistically affordable for those right at the top of the eligibility criteria.

Due to the significant costs of this project (which have risen again since the last estimate) other parts of the Borough may lose out. For example, Hampton Nurserylands needs investment to provide a new fit-for-purpose town centre, and Teddington and Hampton North have been left behind for too long.

As the Inspector observed in his decision, this project still has many detailed outstanding issues to be resolved.   It is incumbent on me and my Conservative colleagues to keep a very close eye on what happens next. Rest assured, we will hold the local Liberal Democrats to account at every turn.