From the Council:

Work begins on 30 September on the redevelopment of the Embankment, directly in front of Diamond Jubilee Gardens, to the west of the Embankment. The work will continue on the improvements already made to the Embankment in 2009.

The work will take 21 weeks to complete, and will include resurfacing, new street furniture, and improved lighting, with:

• Six crossings over the road leading to the Riverside Walkway.
• Seven new flower beds to include perennials, grasses, and box hedge.
• New street lighting and park furniture to link the eastern embankment with Diamond Jubilee Gardens.
• Use of high quality materials including York Stone, heritage gravel, and Staffordshire blue pavers.

Tree planting will also take place to remove eight Horse Chestnut trees which have become infected with three different diseases which include bleeding canker, leaf miner, and leaf blight. The diseases will lead to what is known as ‘limb failure’ and will reduce the life expectancy of the trees currently located to the Western side of Twickenham Embankment. The trees have outgrown the tree planters and roots are demolishing the pathways and planters.

Council notice of the work

Coming to the Riverside

14 September - Charlie Shore's Boys and Girls Regatta.
Run by Twickenham Alive

25 June 2013 - Queen's Hall up for redevelopment again

Planning Application 13/2270/FUL

Queen's Hall from the service road. Photo © Yvonne Hewett. Larger pictures

Detail of frieze inside Queen's Hall. Photo © Memories of Twickenham. Larger pictures

This application comes from Omaha Properties, owners of the south side of King Street. The plans call for 2 2-bedroom flats and 2 1-bedroom flats, with space for a gym or recreation facility on the ground and first floors.

The ugly, modern rear extension - to the right of the picture above - would be demolished, and the intention is to move the spectacular frieze into the communal area of the building.
The Application documents
Reports, including the Design and Access Statement
Drawings

19 May 2013 - Council to purchase Santander building and car park

The council cabinet voted on Friday 17 May to buy properties at 1, 1a and 1b King Street, and 2-4 Water Lane.

MAIN POINTS
Pool Site: Having this land means that the remainder of the old poolsite can be developed more sympathetically, without having to take a piecemeal approach. It would be wonderful if the Diamond Jubilee Gardens could be extended to Water Lane, with a public viewing platform and café at the corner of Water Lane, giving the best views up and down the river. See pictures below (This is assuming that a suitable home is found for HANDS, the charity which helps many in the borough, which is currently located in the old caretaker's house on the Embankment.)
Service Road: Acquiring the car park means that the service road can be extended to Wharf Lane - though the drop in levels of approximately 1.5m means that vehicles with large turning circles will have problems.

DOCUMENTS
Officer's report (which bears close reading): PURCHASE OF 1, 1A, 1B KING STREET AND 2/4 WATER LANE, TWICKENHAM
Map 1 - Appendix A the poolsite
Map 2 - Appendix B the remainder of the block: Santander building (blue), car park (green), buildings in King Street (red)

Twickerati Blog and Comments

Update: 15 Feb 2013 - New Twickenham Area Action Plan

The Twickenham Area Action Plan is currently undergoing scrutiny by the planning inspector, prior to being adopted. One worrying element in the plan is a possible specification for redevelopment on the site of the old toilets, including possible retail, café, and luxury housing. This is a prime location, with views up and down the river, and should remain in the public domain in perpetuity.

The view downstream from in front of the former toilet block, February 2013. Photo © Yvonne Hewett.

The view upstream from in front of the former toilet block, February 2013. Photo © Yvonne Hewett.

Update: 15 Feb 2013 - TRTG's planning application for remaining buildings on poolsite

The Twickenham Riverside Terrace Group's application from 9 March 2012, 12/0719/FUL, still has not been heard. HANDS, the charity that provides voluntary help and support for people throughout the community, is still located in the former Superintendent's house. Otherwise, the buildings are empty and derelict, including the former toilet block.

Please see our History 1980-2001 page for background and the details of developments proposed for the pool site prior to December, 2001; and the pages for 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 for changes to the poolsite in those years. The picture archive from the partial demolition of the old pool building is at Pictures 1 and Pictures 2.

On this site you will also find:

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