As previously warned as likely in this blog Richmond and Bushy Parks Safer Parks Panel has been notified by the Met Police that its park force will shut by December 2025. On Friday, 14 February, the panel was also informed that the Royal Parks Police will continue until “at least” 31 March 2025.
This decision seems quite irrational. Will anyone consider a Judicial Review?
Next week is the third anniversary of Putin’s brutal assault on Ukraine. This blog has rarely commented on international politics, but it did so then and has updated at times. It was argued then that Russia had to be stopped. It was not and we are now suffering the consequences. See
Now we have a new realpolitik brought about by an untrustworthy US President. What are his motives? Attempting to bring about a new world order, in which the megalamania of him and the likes of Musk can be given full rein? And perhaps to weaken Europe so the likes of the Baltic States and Greenland are at risk.
Whatever the reasons Europe has experience of appeasement. We cannot afford to allow the US and Russia to climb into bed together without Europe demonstrating firm opposition to selling out Ukraine. In any event this is not solely about Ukraine. The whole of Western Europe is at risk. Can we really still afford to be sharing intelligence with the US, when their President might disclose secrets for his own benefit?
English Heritage has announced that it is to unveil a Blue Plaque in honour of Marc Bolan (1947–1977). The enigmatic frontman of T. Rex spearheaded the Glam Rock movement of the 1970s. Known for his flamboyant style and electrifying stage presence, Bolan captivated audiences with his fusion of rock, folk, and glittering theatrics, making hits like Get It On and Ride a White Swan.
The plaque will mark one of his west London addresses. Bolan died after his car ploughed into a tree in Queen’s Ride in Barnes in 1977, where there is already a ‘tree shrine’.
The English Heritage Blue Plaque is to be placed at “one of his west London addresses” (hopefully his last home, at 142 Upper Richmond Road, not far from where he died). It will be interesting to see how it is positioned, given the wall that exists there opposite the north end of Gilpin Avenue.
//www.english-heritage.org.uk
You may remember visiting Stag Brewery Studios in 2023 while the TV Series ‘A Thousand Blows’ was being made.
The first instalment will be shown on Disney+ on 21 February 2025. See here for the trailer: A Thousand Blows official trailer | Watch
Advance Notice MESS AGM will be held on Monday 24 March 2025 at All Saints Church.
The largest housing development in Richmond is at the Mortlake Brewery site. A decision on the planning applications is due next month.
But there are (or were) two other developments close by, which also involve housing.. There are firm reports that the Homebase site, where the Mayor gave planning permission for some 400 residential units, is not now going to proceed for cost reasons. There are also rumours that progress may have stalled at the Barnes Hospital site.
Just what strategic planning is going on?
Sarah Olney MP for Richmond Park has written to pass on a response received from TfL after she enquired whether there were plans to make cuts to our Transport Police:
‘It is disappointing to hear that inaccurate information is being shared at a police liaison meeting.
Over the last year, the Metropolitan Police Service (the Met) has set out its vision for future policing of the capital, New Met for London, which sets out how it will structure policing across the capital, increase trust and confidence and drive down crime. The New Met for London plan will result in significant changes to how the Met delivers enhanced roads and transport policing services, which we currently fund. We have been actively engaging with the Met to understand the implications of this change on the policing of both roads and public transport in London.
We are determined to ensure that London’s transport network remains a safe environment to work and travel, and that we support the Met to play their full role in delivering on the Mayor’s Vision Zero strategy. We will continue to work closely with the Met as we respond to the changes they are proposing, and we will ensure our continued funding of policing is delivering value for money and measurably improving the safety and security of travelling in London.’
It is always good to have a public statement from TfL. Facts are better than speculation, such as is necessary with so much policy development locally. See Hammersmith Bridge and a Traffic Management Plan around the Stag Brewery.
This response refers to the New Met policy, ‘designed to increase trust and confidence and drive down crime’. That may be true in relation to local transport. It certainly does not apply to plans for policing Richmond and Bushy Parks.
It was reported here earlier in the week that a decision was expected about the future of the Parks Police on Friday. See https://childlawobserver10.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=1854&action=edit
That did not happen. But yet again the extreme financial pressure under which the Metropolitan Police are operating has been emphasised. It is regarded as highly probable that the Parks Police will be disbanded and that this would be sorted out by the end of 2025.
A cynical view might be that that of course gives the Met, the Home Office and the Government time to acclimatise the public to what on any account would be a disastrous decision for local policing, Park employees, the maintenance of a Site of Special Scientific Interest and the public in the area and at large. Maybe they think that we will get used to the idea and the huge local opposition to the idea will simply drift away.
It will be interesting to hear how the authorities justify their decision and what proposals they have for ensuring our safety and the well-being of the Parks. No doubt it will all happen behind closed doors * , so that the authorities can try to ensure that opposition wanes rather than grows.
Continue readingThe Government has recently announced plans in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to introduce new duties for schools and local authorities to co-operate with each other regarding admissions and for schools to co-operate with local authorities regarding placement planning.
Cllr Penny Frost, Chair of the Richmond Education and Children’s Services Committee has welcomed the proposals. She told EastSheenMatters:
“If the Bill goes through and gives Local Authorities more power to work with academies to manage school places, this will be very beneficial to the overall planning of school places and management of school admissions within and across boroughs.
“Currently, academies can refuse to take individual students which can lead to erosion of inclusive practice which then affects other schools and leaves students without a school place either at the start of an academic year, or as an in-year admission when a family has moved into or across the borough. Conversely, an academy school can choose to increase its own numbers without any consultation and in a way which can challenge the viability of other nearby schools.
“For Richmond upon Thames, we strongly believe in the value of our ‘family’ of schools working together, and this proposed change of legislation will be of great benefit to our being able to even out numbers across the borough and manage individual applications. At present, we would have to apply to the Department for Education if we wished to be able to challenge an academy which has refused to take a child whose needs we think the academy should be able to manage.”
Continue readingRumours are swirling round East Sheen that a closed door decision has been made about the Police Unit for Richmond and Bushy Parks. And that it will be formally announced today.
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