THE use of the image of a young boy on the Richmond Liberal Democrats website was an error by our volunteer webmaster and it will not be repeated.

The image was taken off the site after the first complaint, and only received massive publicity because of the actions of the Richmond United Group in sending it to the local papers.

Sadly, it has taken attention away from my main aim, which was to expose the statements being told by some Conservatives and some members of Richmond United Group.

At the recent meeting, opposition leader Councillor Nick True denied that he had ever sent a letter to developers 'frightening them off'. A few minutes later, he admitted shamefacedly that he had given a letter to officers of the council to hand to developers.

Another example of Tory bullying was their threat to withdraw all funding from all organisations that had anything to do with the River Centre proposed for Twickenham.

We have a vision for Twickenham Riverside, while the opponents do not agree among themselves.

We want to see a state-of-the-art river centre supported by Sir David Attenborough, new public open space, an improved playground, parking moved away from the river and a better cafe, together with substantial improvements to the embankment, all worth £4million and all paid for by the housing.

I have also been very concerned by some representatives of the Richmond United Group,

who have said we are going to sell off the whole site and cover the embankment with housing.

In fact, we are proposing to build houses and flats on 26 per cent of the site, while 74 per cent will be retained by the council.

We have been accused of proposing a luxury development that local residents cannot afford.

In fact, the flats and houses are designed by local Eel Pie architect, Clive Chapman, and will have comparable prices to properties in Twickenham.

They said that the playground would close. We intend to move and improve it. They said the cafe would close.

We want a better facility in the River Centre. They have said the land was given to the old Twickenham Council for 'pleasure grounds'.

In fact, the land was purchased for road widening and new municipal buildings, such as a town hall.

I think that the time has come for a proper debate based on facts, rather than innuendo and untruth. I repeat my promise to speak to any organisation that is interested in the truth of what we want to do.

SERGE LOURIE Leader of Richmond Council