Twickenham, the home of British Rugby is set to undergo major developments concerning the transport facilities within our town. The redevelopment project that has just been given a 1.6 million pound injection by the Mayor should take place within the next five years, although the original project start date was September 2012; however the legal challenge caused the redevelopment to be postponed. The project will not just provide a new, modern station but the ability to build new homes, shops and restaurants around a new station area. The development comes roughly at a time where 6,000 people pass through the local station each day, a figure that increases by around five times on Rugby match days; and an even bigger factor adding to the development is the 2015 Rugby World Cup being hosted at Twickenham.
Contrary to all of the above, some locals are very unhappy with the redevelopments set to take place, with some arguing that the local council are going against their maximum building height policy. TRAG-Twickenham Residents Action Group is the group leading this attack against the local council and Solum Regeneration, the group set to redevelop the station. It seems as though the locals had started to take the advantageous point in the plans, with 400 local residents together contributing £55,000 to aid the support for TRAG.
Make of it what you will, but I leave you with this simple question...Would you rather a revived, modern Twickenham that may cement our name on the map, or the Twickenham everyone knows that is like a giant community; where everyone knows each other?
