 | Hampton North Ward |
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is served by;
  
Cllr Kate Howard Cllr Geoffrey Samuel Cllr Martin Seymour
Why not come to our Councillor's Surgery?
It is held at The White House (Room 4)
on the first Thursday of the month
from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.
A Tale of Two Villages!
Hampton North Councillor Geoffrey Samuel has expressed his dismay that Council bureaucracy is holding up the recognition of Hampton Hill. He said:”Hampton Hill residents are proud of their community and have a flourishing association to prove it! Some years ago I persuaded the post office to recognise Hampton Hill as a postal address. But when the Council erected its ‘Welcome to Richmond upon Thames’sign it listed the district as ‘Hampton’.
This was done with the best of intentions – to signify the entire district of Hampton. The Council Ward of Hampton North covers parts of both Hampton and Hampton Hill. However Hampton Hill residents understandably felt aggrieved at being overlooked – the sign was erected in the postal district of Hampton Hill. I therefore supported their request for this change, modest in nature but symbolically significant for the members of the local community.
Turned down initially for technical reasons, I raised the matter at the beginning of April. Two months later I have still not received a definitive response. I do not want a bureaucratic response, I want a recognition that there is such a place as Hampton Hill and the Council should celebrate it. Is that too much to ask ?”
Help a 96-Year-Old Crippled Lady - And Get A Fine!
Hampton North Councillor Geoffrey Samuel has expressed his outrage at a Penalty Charge Notice given to an Hampton resident. He said: "Last week this resident was helping his 96-year old crippled Mother on to a coach with other old folk at Hampton Station when he noticed a warden writing a penalty notice.
He approached the warden and explained that he was parked because his Mother could not walk, was at the back of the queue and needed help to reach her seat. The fact that the car windows were open was evidence of his intention to remain only for the briefest possible time. The reponse of the warden? simply to take photographs of the scene!
Residents who witnessed the scene could not believe it. The bus – equally parked on a yellow line – received no penalty. I have written to the Council to express my anger at this incident. I have demanded that the PCN be immediately withdrawn. I have asked to see the guidance given to wardens.
This is a Council, with its anti-motorist obsession, which will penalise good Samaritans, decent citizens and those helping old folk. A Council that cares nothing for its residents and puts the collection of charges above care and concern for people”.
Road Repairs Bodged
Bodged resurfacing of Borough roads has been condemned by leading Conservative and LibDem Councillors. Conservative Transport spokesman Councillor Martin Seymour said: “Hanworth Road in Hampton is an example of this unsatisfactory work. Residents have waited for this work to be undertaken and are understandably angry that it has been done so badly.
Here – and in too many other roads – the new surface looks shoddy and unlikely to last. It is put down in a matter of hours with little preparation – and there are signs of wear within days.
At a recent Council meeting even the LibDem Chairman of the Environment Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Mumford, backed our criticism of the Council’s road repairs. Residents in some roads have been told that utilities are likely to dig up the road after resurfacing has taken place. What utter madness – and a complete waste of taxpayers’ money!”.
Hampton residents are furious that Broad Lane, re-surfaced a few months ago, is being dug up. Hampton North Councillor Geoffrey Samuel said: “We have told the Council that we are totally opposed to this farce. It is unnecessary and could have been avoided. But the Council kow-tows to the utilities and does not stand up for local people. At least our opposition has secured from the Council a promise that after the road has been re-instated, it will, in addition, be re-surfaced. Again”.
Transport spokesman and Ward Councillor Martin Seymour added. “We suggested to the Council alternative routes. There are several alternatives which would have met the needs of the utility and also avoided the disaster of digging up a newly-resurfaced road. This brings the Council into contempt. There is no compelling evidence to show that our alternatives were not feasible. Sadly the present Council does not give priority to looking after its residents”.
No Protests Allowed On Bus ‘Dictatorship’
Hampton North Councillors are struggling to find an opportunity to represent the views of residents angered by a dictatorial decision of London Buses. Ken Livingstone’s bus bureaucrats have ruthlessly overridden local residents in the Hanworth Road.
Ward Councillor Martin Seymour said: “Local residents felt that the location preferred by London Buses was unnecessary, undesirable and unsafe. We supported them. Even the Council agreed. But lo and behold London Buses have totally ignored local people.
At the Council meeting on Tuesday I asked Councillor Trigg why this was being allowed. But he has simply thrown in the towel, given in to Livingstone and refuses to take the matter further. We will not let matters rest there.”
Councillor Geoffrey Samuel added: “This is a total denial of democracy. We have asked for the matter to be put on the agenda for the next meeting of the Transport Consultative Group. But – and this is unbelievable – the Council is refusing to allow it to be discussed.
The meeting would have been an opportunity for local councillors and local people to attend and state their case. This undemocratic Council is refusing to allow us even to speak!”.
Listen To Local People
Hampton North Councillors have criticised the Council’s approach to Hampton Nurserylands – one of the Council’s five priority areas. Councillor Geoffrey Samuel said: “The Council’s solution to the problems of the Nurserylands was to appoint an unwanted Community Worker at a cost to the public purse of almost £40,000 a year. Another Council employee, another layer of bureaucracy! So far they have not even managed to recruit to this post – but nonetheless have set up a talking shop, composed mainly of people on the public payroll”.
Councillor Martin Seymour added: “As a Committee member of The White House I am dismayed that this money has not been used to strengthen this excellent community association. They are already there – they are doing the job: why not funnel all this money into their coffers so that they can do an even better job?“
Councillor Kate Howard concluded: “As local Councillors, active in the ward, we know of many of the real problems – anti-social behaviour, some ‘neighbours from hell’, an environment in need of real improvement. We are fighting for resources to tackle the real problems of real people. That is our priority. A Community Worker is merely a diversion. Local people want solutions to the problems they are facing”.
Council Refuses To Axe Unpopular Chicane
Described by Council officers as ‘the most unpopular traffic scheme in the Borough’ the Oak Avenue chicane is set to remain. Hampton North Councillor Geoffrey Samuel expressed his anger at this unjustifiable decision. He said. “Ward Councillors are continually being pressed by local residents to replace this unpopular and unsafe chicane. It promotes bad driving, it causes unnecessary congestion and is the source of countless damage-accidents.
Council officers agreed many months ago that it should be replaced. Only recently we decided that a ‘speed cushion’ would be safer and more effective. Officers asked the Council to fund this modest scheme from the Council’s own traffic budget. I am appalled to learn that Councillor Trigg has personally decided to veto it.
And this at a time when the reserves are still around £50m, there is another underspend this year and the Council is earning far more in interest than it expected. This woeful decision will anger hundreds of local residents who want this unpopular chicane replaced with a safe scheme that reduces the speed of traffic”.
Meanwhile at the lower end of the road, used by dozens of pedestrians and pupils on their way to school, there is no means of slowing the traffic at all. This is a real safety hazard. We need a pedestrian crossing here. This is now becoming urgent. If outside funding is not available, the Council must pay for it – after all millions more have gone into the reserves since the last election.”
Support for The Shooting Star
 
Your three Conservative Councillors, Kate Howard, Geoffrey Samuel and Martin Seymour are giving priority to support for the wonderful childrens hospice located in our ward. Can you help?
 
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