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Most read Comments 1 It’s no-go for Jabo at Bees 2 Fire in Whitton 3 Wood good enough to make the grade, says former boss 4 Transport booze ban to start in June 5 Oxfam goes designer 6 No sugar-coating as boss shows his ruthless side 7 Bluebells face Spanish invasion 8 Good times at the Beveree keeping money men happy 9 Hampton & Richmond 0 Eastbourne Borough 2 (R) 10 Manager happy to stand by signings Today | 7 Days 1 Boris in charge 2 Transport booze ban to start in June 3 Boris unveils alcohol ban plan 4 Boris wins mayoral race 5 Train vandals sentenced 6 Update: Boris ahead in mayoral race 7 Trains hit by lightning 8 One post office saved, 37 to go 9 Boris to unveil mayoral programme 10 Arbour regains Assembly seat

Ever wondered why you started something? It has been a bit like that for me over the past three weeks as a number of projects all seem to be demanding a lot of attention at the same time.

May sees the riverside come alive with the start of our mowing regime and the annual influx of visitors who come and enjoy the Thames. In addition, this year we have a Royal visit, the launch of a new project for Teddington and the consultation period for the London's Arcadia Heritage Lottery Scheme.

On the whole, though, everything has run remarkably smoothly. One of the most satisfying aspects has been the reduction of litter along the towpath. Although we got off to a shaky start, the new management regime is now working well. This is not to say it is perfect, but think back to just a couple of years ago and the mess left along the towpath after each sunny weekend and there has been a considerable improvement.

Another cause for celebration this month has been the inclusion of Strawberry Hill House in the BBC series Restoration. Originally constructed by Horace Walpole, the building is one of the jewels of the Arcadian Thames and is recognised as one of the most important buildings at risk in the world. The Friends of Strawberry Hill have launched their campaign to encourage as many people as possible to help save this masterpiece during the Restoration series. The prize offered by the BBC is lottery money to restore the building and all we need do to help their cause is vote. Last year's winner (a public swimming bath in Manchester) received just over 200,000 votes - we can do that here, so over the summer get voting and between us a new beginning for Strawberry Hill can be ensured.

It was two years ago this week at the start of the Queen's Golden Jubilee, that the London's Arcadia Heritage Lottery funded project was born. A group of 600 local people met on glorious sunny evening on Richmond Hill to unveil a plaque celebrating those people who saved the View from threatened development in 1902. Following this short ceremony, the London's Arcadia project was launched by Sir Roy Strong at the Royal Star and Garter Home.

In June, this year we celebrate another important anniversary in the life of the River Thames. The Barge Lock at Teddington was opened with great ceremony 100 years ago and in true Thames Landscape Strategy style, we intend to remember this event with a celebration whilst using the occasion to launch our next big project - the Teddington Gateway. A fun-packed day of events has been planned around the Lock bringing together the 100th anniversary celebrations with the Teddington Lifeboat Station Open Day. The Teddington River Festival will take place on Sunday, June 6, between 11am and 7pm and includes a feast of activities for all the family. There will be a small arts and craft fair, vintage skiff races, historic boats, lifeboat demonstrations, a beer tent, bands, face painting, a BBQ and a children's eisteddfod to name just some of the attractions.

By linking the River Festival with the launch of the Teddington Gateway project, it is hoped local people will be able to come and see some of the proposals and give us their opinions on the scheme. We all know that so much more needs to be done to rejuvenate our glorious river and this is the next step in that direction and the implementation of the Thames Landscape Strategy. The Teddington Gateway project has two phases. The first will address the reach of the river around Teddington and will include the Lock, the footbridge, the lock island, Manor Road Recreation Ground and the adjacent towpath.

Teddington Gateway' is a scheme facilitated through the Thames Landscape Strategy consisting of the Environment Agency (as lead partner), the London Borough of Richmond, Royal Borough of Kingston, the Port of London and several local groups, notably the Teddington Society. It is project of two halves. Firstly a Site Management Plan will address the area around Teddington Lock itself. As part of their commitment to the scheme, the Environment Agency has carried out much of the initial survey work and will be putting together the final funding plan.

The other half of the Teddington Gateway project will look at the wider river corridor between Hampton Court and Kew to identify ways that the use of the river itself can be improved. The intention is to provide facilities that will enable the major attractions along the river (such as Kew gardens, Ham House, Kingston and Hampton Court) to be linked much more effectively by boat. Local rowing, sailing and canoe clubs will be supported and facilities for events such as the Great River Race improved. A sustainable marketing plan will be produced to look at ways that visitors to the Arcadian Thames can understand the area's history and wildlife, leading (hopefully) to greater protection and maybe our ultimate goal UNESCO World Heritage Status. It's an ambitious and long-term plan but one that is very achievable.

The launch of the scheme at the Teddington River Festival on June 6 will give everyone the opportunity to come and have their say. Proposals will be on display at the Thames Landscape Strategy marquee on the Lock Island. Alongside these proposals, will be the concept designs for the London's Arcadia HLF project. In addition these Arcadia designs can be viewed by the public at a number of events including: Tidetables caf (under Richmond Bridge) 4-8pm Tuesday, June 8; Orleans House Gallery (Twickenham) 4-8pm Wednesday, June 9; and at the Ham Fair (Thames Landscape Strategy marquee) on Saturday, June 12.

Nothing has been set in stone yet, so come and have your say on the future of our remarkable river.

9:15am Friday 28th May 2004

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