Protest Over Threat to Twickenham's Historic Industrial Site

9.00.00am GMT Wed 11th Jan 2006

Residents in the Hamilton Road/Talbot Road/Marsh Farm Road area of Twickenham are incensed about a proposal to develop a large block of flats on the site of an electricity works which was build in 1901 when Twickenham was becoming established.

A large group of residents met at York House on Monday with Vincent Cable MP and Councillor Orchard to plan their campaign against over development of the site and to preserve the important industrial architecture. Residents are concerned that the development will add more traffic to a chronically congested set of narrow streets, already badly affected by the lorry traffic from Greggs bakery. The proposed development will also dominate and tower over the neighbouring properties.

The electricity works was built by a private Twickenham and Teddington electricity supply company, initially supplying power to 3,000 lights though the borough was not fully converted from gas to electricity lamps until 1931. Before the power works was built the site was used for playing games and a famous annual circus.

Vincent Cable said: "I hope the Council will listen to the residents who are not merely arguing on their own behalf against the damaging effects of over development but are trying to preserve a key piece of our local heritage. I understand that the Council is considering creating a Conservation Area and that would give welcome protection."