Vince Cable

A survey found that 90% of resident are satisfied with the Borough as a place to live compared with 66% in outer London generally.

The survey was conducted jointly by the NHS and the Council to assess the Borough's needs.

Key attractions are the low level of crime, open spaces and public transport. The main priorities for improvement are traffic congestion (54%); road and pavement repairs (37%); and activities for teenagers (35%) - the last a big increase. But there are some serious public health problems:

• Over 3,700 - 24% of the adult population drink "hazardously" or "harmfully"

• 18.4% of the Borough's adults engage in "binge drinking" (twice the daily sensible level) as against 15.4% in London as a whole

• 1 in 5 adults smoke

• Over two thirds do not eat healthily and 80% don't take enough physical exercise

• There are 16,000 carers for disabled or elderly relatives

• About 4,000 have high blood pressure

Vincent Cable MP said: "By most of London standards this is a great place to live and most residents recognise that; but there are alarming levels of unhealthy living which are leading to high dependence on health and social services."

The survey also showed the Richmond is becoming much more cosmopolitan with over 20% now foreign born. The share of non-white ethnic background (9%) is close to the national average and much lower than the London average (29%); but there is a big growth of Polish, Australian, South African and Irish immigration. Vincent Cable said: "In the 35 years that I have lived in the Twickenham area, it has become a much more cosmopolitan place as reflected in the shops and restaurants but the immigrant population is itself highly diverse."