AS a local councillor. I would like to set the record straight on the letter 'Affordable homes must not be just squeezed in' (October 16).

The present Lib Dem administration is committed to the provision of much-needed affordable housing with or without the Twickenham Riverside Scheme.

The last Conservative administration (2002-06) approved for sale a list of council-owned sites to commercial developers which included the sites in Station Road and Shacklegate Lane referred to.

The present Lib Dem administration earmarked these sites for affordable housing instead. Ordinarily, only sites producing more than 10 housing units are required to provide some affordable housing, but our decision meant that these small sites could be used entirely for affordable housing.

The 2005 Conservative unitary development plan approved the development of Twickenham Riverside for 'leisure use, including public open space, housing, cafes and possible retail.'

It also introduced the concept of 'linked sites'. This allowed a site owner to transfer the obligation to provide affordable housing to other sites in his ownership.

On Twickenham Riverside, this would mean the provision of fewer houses in order to pay for the river centre, so retaining 76 per cent of the site as public space and in public ownership, and bringing to an end years of dereliction.

It has been suggested that no consideration was given to parking when planning approval was given to the affordable housing schemes in Shacklegate Lane and Station Road.

Both received planning permission and the planning committee took full account of parking issues. In addition, my fellow councillors and I succeeded in preventing total redevelopment of both sites, ensuring the retention of useful community parking.

COUNCILLOR JEREMY ELLOY Fulwell and Hampton Hill