A scheme to rejuvenate Whitton, Hampton North, Barnes, Mortlake and Ham promises to deliver more improvements, despite recent delays.

Richmond Council invested £800,000 in uplift projects across the borough, which were developed in response to the authority’s all in one survey that asked people what and where they wanted to improve.

To date the programme has delivered several projects, including improving Whitton High Street, the new Hampton Square, revamping Castelnau Community Centre and transforming Ham library.

Former councillor Virginia Morris was the driving force behind the programme, which she handed over to Councillor Pamela Fleming in September when she stood down.

Coun Fleming said her new role as cabinet member for environment, planning, parks and highways was a challenge but that she was enjoying it.

She said: “Virginia Morris had done a very good job on it but it’s been an exciting time taking it onboard.

“Some of the subjects I had been involved in right from the beginning so it wasn’t too much of a struggle.”

Coun Fleming admitted there were some delays, especially in Ham and Hampton where consultations due to be held in the past two months for further stages of uplift have yet to go ahead.

She said: “In Ham there were other organisations involved as well as the council so negotiations take a bit longer.

“The consultation was supposed to originally be for autumn. It’s slipped a little bit but it’s a big project.

“Making sure we get a consultation plan to really give residents the opportunity their say and give their feedback is important.”

Ms Morris said a lot of time and money was spent investigating further development of the projects.

She said: “It would be tragic if any of the uplift projects were cancelled.

“I appreciate that it takes time to settle into a new position so I am that once Coun Fleming has done so, uplift will become a priority for her.”

Coun Fleming said people could expect an announcement on the Ham uplift in the next week, while consultation over the next stage of development for Hampton Square would be in January.

She said: “The new Hampton Square really is fabulous with new facilities for people with the market and everything people really are using it all.

“We will be coming back to it in the new year. It gives a chance for people to use the square then come up with ideas of how they would like to see more developments.

“We are really pleased that these are projects and are all things that are going to have a lasting impact on communities. It would be a shame to rush them. It’s going to be really important to people and their lives.”