SERGE Lourie, writing in the Informer of February 5 about the Twickenham Riverside stated 'opponents of the council scheme cannot agree among themselves on what they want'.

The whole concept of those residents like ourselves who wish to save our Twickenham riverside is that this land should be safeguarded for future generations. It is not just what we want now but should include what our children and grandchildren might one day prefer.

Sadly our leader does not appreciate this concept that once this land has been turned into luxury housing it is no longer available.

We do agree on what we want now: 1. The existing children's playground and cafe and Jubilee Gardens, which cost us £1.3million, to stay where they are. 2. The existing mature chestnut trees on the riverside to be kept where they are. 3. The Duke of Edinburgh Trust and the Busen Martial Arts Group to be re-invited to demolish the old toilets and Hands building and to build an activity centre for young people at their cost (as they had both agreed to do).

This could include a facility for a simple river centre and for Hands. This is provided for in the Twickenham Riverside Terrace Group planning application for community use as this corner of the site leaves the rest of the site free. 4. The council to put the community land in the hands of trustees for perpetuity for leisure and recreation (this is what the Conservatives have said they will do).

We are agreed on what we don't want: 1. We don't want this vital land disposed of to a property developer. We were supported by 93.5 per cent of Twickenham residents who voted in a referendum conducted by the Electoral Reform Services, which we paid for. The recently published accounts of Countryside were so poor that even Serge Lourie could not bring himself to exchange contracts. 2. We don't want a public open space as suggested of a sloping concrete roof over public toilets over a 75-seater restaurant and over a two storey office building. 3. In a nutshell, we do not want the Lib Dem proposals which, including the Dawney Day fiasco, have already cost the electors £2.5m. 4. Emphatically, we do not want a luxury housing estate of 32 units stretching from Wharf Lane to the car park in Water Lane (none of which are affordable housing).

Residents who wish to hear more about the riverside and town regeneration may attend a public meeting at Clarendon Hall, York House Twickenham on Friday, March 5 at 8pm

Leave it to the electors. JOHN REEKIE Twickenham Riverside Terrace Group

SUE HAMILTON-MILLER Save Our Riverside

ADRIENNE ROWE Friends of Twickenham Riverside