Tory councillors have called for a referendum on the council's controversial proposals for Twickenham Riverside.
Opposition leader Nicholas True has demanded a public vote ahead of this summer's decision on the future of the publicly owned former swimming pool site, saying most residents are against any development of the area.
"Once the Lib Dems sign a contract with a developer to sell or lease the people's land to a developer, we are past a point of no return," said Cllr True. "The day Serge Lourie as his colleagues sign - D Day - will be the day the future of this land, owned by the people and held by the council in trust for the people, is no longer in the hands of the people. The people of Twickenham should approve that."
"Once a developer has a hold on the land, it could cost the council millions to get them out. It is vital that all people in Twickenham understand the significance of D Day, and it is vital that before their land is disposed of and before their money is committed to potentially having to buy out a developer that the people of Twickenham are given a say."
The council's plans include a river centre, housing and office space, Cllr True has tabled a motion but council leader Serge Lourie said a vote would be "inappropriate."
"I have responded to the Richmond United Group who have also asked for a referendum and stated that it would be inappropriate at this stage,” he said. “The council has consulted extensively throughout a number of stages of the riverside process and found that when the views of the wider community are taken into account there is support for the council's plans for an environmental development that will finally see this area of the riverside developed in a way that provides value for money for local people and improve the local area at the same time.
“The problem with a referendum is that any question would have to make clear that there is no alternative scheme on the table. All the others include money that frankly the council does not have.”
