Brentford would face strong competition in its bid to 'bring home' the royal barge Gloriana should the people of Twickenham reject it, Richmond's council leader has claimed.

Nick True said he hoped he would be able to win over residents by addressing their 'legitimate concerns' about a permanent mooring in Orleans Park, Twickenham.

But should they ultimately spurn the opportunity, he said there would be no shortage of other boroughs willing to accommodate what he described as 'an extraordinary work of art'.

Brentford Chamber of Commerce this week launched its own campaign to bring the Gloriana back to Brentford, where the vessel was built.

The chamber, which is seeking Hounslow Council's backing, believes the borough has a more legitimate claim to the boat, which was built in Brentford and launched in Isleworth.

Its campaign has since been backed by Hounslow Council.

But Mr True said he believed Richmond was the rightful home of the Gloriana as that is where its builder Mark Edwards lives.

He added that the boat, which led the Queen's Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant in 2012, was only constructed at a warehouse in Brentford for security reasons.

Mr True blamed a negative campaign for spreading lies about the boat's proposed home in Twickenham after he had 'perhaps unwisely' announced it at a fundraising dinner before public consultation had even begun.

He said these 'lies' included claims part of the grounds would be concreted over and a playground removed. But he admitted there were other 'legitimate concerns' which he hoped the council would be able to address.

"I've no doubt that if the good people of Richmond rejected this extraordinary work of art, which will become part of our national heritage, that many other boroughs would be keen to give it a home. But we're not giving up. We're continuing the dialogue," he said.

"At the moment the Gloriana team have chosen Orleans Park as their preferred site. I've no inkling they would change from that. She's not available, and I'm hoping she won't become available."

Proposals for a permanent mooring at Orleans Park have not been greeted with universal approval by local residents, to say the least, with critics raising concerns about potential damage to the site and hordes of tourists spoiling the area's character.

Richmond Council this month launched a public consultation about the plans, which has been extended to run until the end of August.

Hounslow Council and Brentford & Isleworth MP Mary Macleod have both backed the campaign to bring the Gloriana to Brentford.

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