This particular work-around hasn’t officially been listed as one of the available options for the impending proper works but may be preferable to the other two options as it keeps at least one bus routes alive on Kingston Road.

It will see 281 buses diverted along Sandy Lane/Park Road and 285 taking the route underneath the lower bridge on Lower Teddington Road presumably along with general road traffic.

Click on this map for PDF

[Update] Network Rail are under scrutiny again – this time for making last minute changes to the plans that were announced just days before the public meeting – the 10 week closure plan has now been extended to 15 (including 7 weekend closures).

Which ever method is chosen, it is almost certain that the 281 bus route will be diverted along Sandy Lane because closing one lane under the bridge would only allow single-decker buses along this ‘angled’ road shape.

There is concern from Hampton Wick traders about the full closure option – particular concerning general trade loss as well as deliveries. A partial closure during the week then full closure on some weekends is expected to cause much confusion with motorists but may bring the least disruption in general.

Brasserie Blanc is expanding by moving into the pub market with the acquisition of the Kings Head lease in addition to the Queen’s Head in Weybridge. Up to £1 million will be invested in the Teddington location alone which will retain the long-running pub side of this business alongside the brasserie.

Ice-cream lovers who have been clamouring for news of the up-and-coming ice-cream parlour won’t have to wait much longer! Il Gelato is aiming to have its grand opening this Friday and if the weather forecast doesn’t change, it will be perfect timing – in the midst of the hot weather that we’re currently enjoying.

To celebrate the launch free ice-cream will be handed out to lucky customers.
[Update] this looks like it will take place at 5pm during their opening party on Friday, not necessarily during the day!

A few empty shop units are under offer – stay tuned for updates. One confirmed new addition will be British Bookshops which will be next door to Headmasters on Broad Street and sell discounted stationery, books, cards and newspapers.

They are currently recruiting for shop staff – if you’re interested then call 01273 507999 or email customerservices@britishbookshops.co.uk.

The news section has been re-organised to make it easier to read and find particular items. One piece of happy news listed is that the Water Gardens water cascade is now running again after the leak was repaired.

Also included on the site is a detailed map of the park’s ponds along with the history and background to each:

If you’re not already a member of the Friends and enjoy the nearby parks, you might want to consider joining. FBHP is an association (soon to be charity) run by volunteers that was created in 1990 in response to the growing need to help protect and conserve these historic parks in South-West London.

See here for subscription information – it only costs £6 per person or £8 per couple. Members will enjoy the Friends newsletter, regular email updates, invitation to the Summer party and free talks and walks by expert speakers. Also for existing members just a friendly reminder, if you haven’t got a light purple 2010 Friends membership card then you probably haven’t paid for this years subscription.

“Heavy snow showers at first this evening becoming heavier and more prolonged overnight will give accumulations of 5-10cm and locally as much as 15-20cm. Some drifting snow is likely in the strong north to northeasterly wind.

The public are advised to take extra care and refer to the ‘Highways Agency’ for further advice on traffic disruption on motorways and trunk roads.”

Gritters are out in force over the borough but travel chaos is still expected for the Friday commute and this general advice for road users has been issued by the Highways Agency:

• Do not travel in severe weather unless journey is essential.
• Check local and national weather forecasts before setting out and take warm clothes, food, water, boots, a torch and spade.
• Drive with care even after roads are salt treated and keep your distance – it can take 10 times longer to stop in icy conditions.

Parents are advised to check school websites early tomorrow morning to check if they will be open. You can also get a picture of which schools are closed from the School Status page.

The 20ft boat lost power and was unable to avoid hitting their weir on Monday. In total two lifeboats, four fire engines, an ambulance and the police were all called to the incident as a precaution.

The boat was later towed away by the Environment Agency who have constant river conditions available on their website – currently it is regarded as unsafe for navigation due to increased river depth and speed at this time of year.

The demolition of these garages is part of the ‘linked-sites strategy’ which has ties to the much wrangled and protested Twickenham riverside development plans.

Despite delays to the Twickenham scheme, the building of the 13 three-bedroom affordable houses will go ahead separately. Councillor Stephen Knight: “In the case of the riverside, the strategy will allow us to minimise the amount of development near the river, and hence maximise the amount of the site available for new public open space.”

Specifically in Teddington areas to be used for the housing will reside in Railway Road and Shacklegate Lane and Teddington garage blocks. Across the borough residents have collaborated to officially complain about the consultation process and generally the need for the housing vs impact that removing the garages will have.

The ‘Annual November Draw-off’ is triggered by lifting weirs at Richmond Lock so that the stretch of the Thames between Richmond and Teddington can drain to its natural level at low tide. This gives better access to locks, weirs, and sluices along the river for essential maintenance and also allows the inspection of the river bed.

After the excitement the eco-group continued to clear the riverbed of rubbish and to explore the ecology and archaeology that lie beneath the surface of the Thames.

[Update] Volunteers from Richmond’s Environment Trust have been exploring the river bed for ecology studies and whilst clearing it of rubbish found a bag containing two pistols and a knife near Twickenham riverside – this has now been handed to the Police.

Letters to community groups, notices on Richmond Councils website and notice boards to request responses – most of which were split fairly evenly between for and against.

At a meeting to decide the outcome of the proposals, 23 councillors voted for, 16 abstained and 4 voted in favour of the motion. One of the reasons given to not make the changes was that ward names are easier to remember, distinguish between and administrate when they are shorter. The proposals would have meant the already lengthy names increasing even more.

Another curious reason was that a large amount of money would have been needed to change the ward boundary names on road signs – whereas it’s actually district boundaries that appear on some road signs (you can see ‘Twickenham’ whited out on some signs replaced with ‘Richmond’).

As if to prove how confusing some names remain, a Richmond and Twickenham Times article includes an error mentioning “South Twickenham” instead of “South Teddington”:“However 54 per cent of people voted for the Hampton Wick ward to have South Twickenham added to its name.”

Many residents who live in the parts of these wards consider themselves part of Teddington – quite understandably considering that their address points to this. The proposal is to tweak these names to reduce any confusion concerning ward membership – the proposed names are “Hampton Wick and South Teddington” and “Hampton Hill and North West Teddington” respectively.

You can have your say by using this online form – feel free to add your opinion and comments on the issue. This public opinion will be taken into account at a special meeting in October where a majority of two-thirds of councillors must agree with each proposal for it to pass. Residents have until 11th September to register their views.

If you are unsure which ward covers your area, you can find this by using the searchable ward finder map.

Heavy rain today has prompted the Environmental Agency to warn of potential flooding in nine rivers in and around London including the Thames near Richmond and Kingston.

Although more rain is forecast overnight, by the evening most of the warnings had been removed and the stretch at Teddington remains all-clear.

These areas are in the flood warning zone for Teddington: