Latest news with #RichmondCouncil
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Families urged to apply for cost of living cash worth up to £600
The Household Support Fund is a cost of living scheme that is run by local councils - it is a pot of cash awarded to local authorities, which they then distribute to residents Families are being urged to check if they can claim up to £600 in cost of living payments through the Household Support Fund. The Household Support Fund is a cost of living scheme that is run by local councils. It is a pot of cash awarded to local authorities, which they then distribute to residents. The help provided normally comes in the form of one-off payments that don't need to be paid back, or vouchers for food or energy. London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Council is issuing cash grants, which vary depending on the size of your household. Here is the help available: Up to £300 for households with one or more adults Up to £500 for households with one child Up to £600 for households and two children or more Get cost of living tips straight to your WhatsApp! As the cost of living crisis continues to burn a hole in people's pockets, the Mirror has launched its very own Money WhatsApp community where you'll get all the latest cost of living advice and money-saving tips straight to your phone. We'll send you the latest breaking updates and exclusives all directly to your phone. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. To be eligible for the grant, you must be over 18, living in Richmond and be struggling from the impact of rising costs of food and energy or continue to be impacted by COVID-19. This can include: Reduced pay or lost job Benefits issues Struggling to afford food, energy costs and other essentials, including white goods Extra costs as a result of COVID-19 Richmond Council is also encouraging individuals to apply if: There are community care needs They have serious health problems There is a risk to a child's wellbeing Get the best deals and tips from Mirror Money You can apply by contacting Citizens Advice Richmond by freephone on 08082 787873. If you're not a Doncaster resident, it is worth checking what support your local council can offer you through the Household Support Fund. For example, City of Doncaster Council is providing help to households that are in receipt of one of benefits including Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Universal Credit which includes the housing element and means-tested free school meals. If you're in a household with one dependent child, you will get a £100 payment for food, while £200 will be paid for two dependent children, and £300 for three dependent children. The council described a dependant child as one you are receiving Child Benefit for. A single payment will be made for energy bills to households that meet the eligibility criteria. Hull City Council is giving £200 to pensioner households. Meanwhile, low income families will get a £40 school uniform grant, as well as food vouchers in school holidays for those eligible for school meals. Hartlepool Borough Council is awarding £100 food vouchers to all households where a child is aged between two and 19 and is eligible for free school meals. Meanwhile, households with pensioners who are in receipt of council tax support will get £100 in bank payments or food vouchers this year.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
1,000 new homes to be built in south London after 10 year planning battle
1,000 new homes to be built in south London after 10 year planning battle The homes will be built on the site of the old Stag Brewery site in Mortlake (Image: Reselton Properties) More than 1,000 new homes will be built in south London on the bank of the Thames despite opposition from Sadiq Khan. The Mayor of London has said that it is 'disappointing' that the Planning Inspectorate upheld an appeal by developer Reselton Properties, paving the way for the scheme to be built. The £1.3 billion development, on the old Stag Brewery site, will see 1,068 homes delivered as well as a new secondary school, shops and offices. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Three different versions of the scheme have been approved by Richmond upon Thames Council – but Sadiq Khan has remained opposed. READ MORE - Row of garages destroyed in battery fire in Surbiton Last year, the local authority backed the most recent set of proposals, which included both an application for the wider development site and an application for the secondary school. But a final decision on both could not be issued without approval from the Mayor of London. Reselton appealed directly to the Planning Inspectorate before Sadiq Khan could consider the plans, claiming he had already indicated he would oppose them. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Mayor has raised concern about the lack of affordable housing in the scheme, which would make up just 7.5 per cent of the new homes. The developer bought the site in 2015. The development is led by Dartmouth Capital Advisors on behalf of Reselton, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore-listed City Developments Limited (CDL). Guy Duckworth, development drector of Dartmouth Capital Advisors, said: 'Our client bought the site with the benefit of a planning brief from Richmond Council, the spirit of which our architects Squire & Partners have followed faithfully, and yet it has taken 10 years to obtain a planning consent.' The first version of the scheme, which would have delivered 813 homes, was backed by Richmond Council before being called in by the Mayor in 2021. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Reselton then increased the number of homes on the site to 1,250, with 30 per cent set to be affordable. But the Mayor still refused the plans despite his own planning officers suggesting it should be approved, claiming that the buildings were too big. This prompted Reselton to submit the most recent proposals, which first received approval from Richmond Council in July 2023. However, new fire regulations post-Grenfell requiring two staircases in buildings above 18 metres forced the developer to revise its plans again. It was these latest plans that have now been given the go ahead by the Planning Inspectorate. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Richmond Council has welcomed the appeal decision, claiming that the development 'presents an opportunity for the whole community'. READ MORE - Mayor backs 569 flat re-development in the heart of East Croydon Leader of the council, Cllr Gareth Roberts, said: 'While we know this scheme has attracted a mix of views, our priority is to ensure the development delivers real benefits for Mortlake – from new homes and school places to jobs and public spaces. 'If delivered well, the scheme has the potential to create a well-connected and sustainable neighbourhood that reflects the needs of current and future generations in Mortlake.' ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: 'It's disappointing that the Planning Inspectorate has allowed this appeal despite the development failing to adequately meet the desperate need for affordable housing in London. 'The very low level of affordable housing is contrary to the government's drive to boost the delivery of affordable and social housing for a generation.'
Sky News
03-05-2025
- Sky News
Rise in crime 'almost inevitable' as Royal Parks police disbanded after 150 years
London's historic Royal Parks have been policed by a dedicated team of officers for more than 150 years. But the Metropolitan Police has confirmed that will come to an end in November when it disbands its specialist unit in a bid to help plug a £260m funding gap. Around 80 officers currently responsible for responding to serious crimes, protecting wildlife, enforcing regulations, and policing events such as the Changing of the Guard, will be moved to local teams. The Royal Parks charity responsible for managing and maintaining the 5,000 acres of green spaces, including Hyde Park, Regent's Park, and Richmond Park, said they are "disappointed" with the decision and are working with the force to ensure a plan is put in place to maintain public safety. Liberal Democrat Leader of Richmond Council and London Assembly Member Gareth Roberts believes a rise in crime across a combined area as large as Heathrow and Gatwick airports is "almost inevitable". "We will have that type of space within the capital being largely unpoliced," he told Sky News. "I hope that we won't be seeing dire consequences, but we have already seen organised criminal gangs targeting cyclists when they know that the police aren't on duty… and this could open the door to further acts like that." Criminal incidents reported in the parks rose around a third from 76 in the year 2022/23 to 101 in 2023/24, according to the Royal Parks' latest annual report. Mr Roberts, who is also a Royal Parks trustee, said cyclists have been forced off their high-end bikes with threats of violence, while other serious crimes reported include sexual offences, mobile phone thefts and drug dealing. More unusual incidents include gangs chasing deer with dogs at night to get them to shed their antlers, which they then sell online, he said. The Met has announced the force would cut 1,700 officers and staff, and slash some services in an effort to save money - despite receiving increases from central and local government. Politicians and campaigners had urged the force to rethink plans to completely get rid of the dedicated Royal Parks policing unit, which has existed since 2004, taking over from the Royal Parks Constabulary, which was set up in 1974. Before that, park keepers had been responsible for policing since 1872. But a letter from the Met's Commander Owain Richards last week confirmed the unit will be fully disbanded by 1 November this year. "It is with regret that we have taken the tough decision to no longer have a dedicated Royal Parks policing team," he said. Local neighbourhood policing teams will instead take over responsibility, as is already the case in places such as Brockwell Park and Clapham Common, in south London, according to the letter. A Met spokesperson said: "Park users and partners can be reassured the Met will continue to respond to emergency calls, patrol hotspot areas, investigate crimes, and support events in Royal Parks across London." But Mr Roberts said already overstretched local teams do not have the extra resources to go into the parks and worries it will "create an atmosphere where criminality could flourish, without the presence of a very dedicated police force". "I have had people saying they will now feel less safe in the parks because they can be quite isolated places some of the time," he added. Rachel Blake, the Labour MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, said she was "deeply concerned". "With crime in the parks rising, removing a dedicated and experienced police presence is a serious mistake," she told Sky News. "These officers have specialist knowledge that cannot simply be replaced by a small number of overstretched neighbourhood officers. "At a time when both the government and the mayor are investing in policing, I am calling for the Metropolitan Police to provide a like-for-like replacement of Royal Parks officers to protect the safety of everyone who uses these vital green spaces." A Royal Parks spokesperson said: "We are disappointed with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) decision to close its dedicated Royal Parks police unit. "The Royal Parks MPS unit and its predecessors have been a massive part of the rich history of the parks in London for over 150 years. "We are deeply grateful to those police colleagues who have been so committed in their work to protect our amazing green spaces and ensure the safety, security and welfare of the millions of visitors to the parks." The charity says it is awaiting full details of how the decision will impact policing of the parks and reassured visitors their safety and wellbeing "is our top priority". "We want to reassure the public that we are working closely with the police over the next six months to ensure a plan is put in place to maintain public safety once the unit is fully disbanded," a spokesperson said. The Met said in a statement: "We have been working closely with the Royal Parks and stakeholders to understand concerns as we navigate our £260m funding gap and reduce the size of the Met. "The Met is prioritising neighbourhood policing and see this as a positive opportunity to integrate the Royal Parks into local community crime fighting plans and ensure a wider pool of officers understand the unique requirements of parks policing."
BBC News
19-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Sweeney wants more non-sport events at Twickenham
Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney says it would be "very difficult" to remain at Twickenham and "justify" significant investment for improvement unless it can increase the number of non-sporting events at Allianz on the Business of Sport podcast,, external he pointed out other venues - such as Wembley and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - are able to bring in extra revenue by hosting many more non-sporting events such as said: "Part of the renovation of the stadium from 2027 means we are in a discussion with Richmond Council about the ability to stage more non-rugby events. For us, it's three and we're only allowed one on a Friday."We've had the Rolling Stones. We could have had Beyonce but she wanted three nights and we are only allowed two nights consecutively, and we've got a restriction on capacity of 55,000. "We're having a conversation now [with the council] and saying that if we are going to invest £600m into the Allianz - and that's going to bring X amount of revenue, we have got the study to show how much economic value it contributes to the borough - you are going to have to work with us in terms of an increase in the number of events we can stage in order to monetise the stadium."There are plenty of places that would like to have us there. Birmingham and Milton Keynes would love to have us there."Asked if the RFU could move if the council were not willing to increase the number of non-sporting events from three, he added: "It would be a tough call for us. It would be very difficult."I don't know how we would justify the investment in the stadium if we can't get the increase in the event licences."BBC Sport has approached Richmond Council and the RFU for February 2024 it was reported the RFU had considered selling Twickenham and buying a 50% share in Wembley, according to a document seen by the Twickenham Stadium Masterplan Programme (TSMP) revealed the RFU board discussed the proposal but no formal approach was made to the Football Association (FA).Instead, it chose to focus on redeveloping Twickenham, which has been England's home ground since was renamed as Allianz Stadium last year as part of a new sponsorship agreement.
BBC News
01-03-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Kew Gardens to open Carbon Garden that focuses on climate crisis
Kew Gardens will open a new "ground-breaking" garden in July that explores the urgent need to tackle the climate crisis. The Carbon Garden will show how carbon helps to sustain life on Earth, the scale of the climate crisis and how nature can be used to combat aims to inspire visitors to take actions in their everyday lives to support the will also educate visitors on how plants and fungi act as "natural allies in climate repair" as they capture carbon and restore balance. The garden, approved by Richmond Council last year, will have a striking display of plants reflecting the dramatic rise in average global temperatures over time.A feature showing layers of soil, a rocky outcrop and a layer of coal in the earth's crust with fossilised plants will then reveal the hidden world of carbon will also be a dry garden with drought-resistant plants to show how nature can be used to adapt to climate change and a rain garden which will highlight ways to manage water flow, prevent soil erosion, reduce flooding and put moisture back into soil.A fungi-inspired pavilion will be built in the centre of the garden using sustainable materials. It will have a sloping canopy directing rainwater into the rain garden, along with sheltered space to host school visits and community activities. In the garden, at least 26 new trees will be planted, chosen for their resilience to predicted future climate conditions. There will also be grasslands, wildflower meadows and hedges to boost Wilford, Kew's garden design manager, said the garden offers a "unique opportunity to showcase our ongoing research, combining scientific insight with thoughtful design and beautiful planting"."We hope the Carbon Garden inspires visitors to act and join us in shaping a more sustainable, resilient future for life on our planet."
