More than 800 people including a man with a ferret on a lead took part in the second consultation over Twickenham Riverside from July 19 up to its close on Saturday.
A pop-up shop opened in Church Street without any of chosen architect Francis Terry’s original designs on display, aimed at giving people the opportunity to present ideas and feedback.
According to those staffing the shop, the visitors included one man who came in with his pet and asked whether the scheme would be “ferret-friendly.”
Celia Holman, of the Twickenham Riverside Village group which campaigned against the original Francis Terry designs, said she was one of the first to visit the shop and that she was very pleased with the process.
She said: “I am very happy that they have seen the good sense of putting the brakes on a little bit and slowing the process down to gather the information they need to. One must proceed in the spirit of cooperation and optimism.
“If it is not productive then we will act accordingly but until we see otherwise we must proceed in good faith and have productive and constructive dialogue.”
Eel Pie Island architect Henry Harrison, who put together his own proposal for the site and dismissed the Francis Terry design as “inappropriate,” said he welcomed the council’s strategy and it showed a petition presented earlier this month was taken seriously.
Henry Harrison with his own proposed design
Mr Harrison said: “What they have done is surprisingly constructive and I am optimistic about a good outcome from this.
“Hopefully they are going to pull those ideas together into something workable.”
He added: “Everything I can see them doing is exactly the right thing, I can only question why they didn’t do this months ago as it would have saved them a lot of hassle. The council appear to be listening.”
Not everyone who visited the shop was optimistic, however.
The person behind Twitter handle @Twickerman said: “I think the consultation is a sham.
“The whole process needs to be started again with a proper brief and with an architect who appreciates the riverside vernacular rather than an inexperienced neo-classical ‘country house down leafy lane’ builder.”
Council cabinet member for communities, Pamela Fleming, said she was pleased with the pop-up shop’s reception.
She said: “Generally I have found a better understanding about both sides on things like parking and suggestions about links to the Diamond Jubilee Gardens.
"People have felt they have had more time to give their ideas and because there are no formal designs in the shop so they have suggested things for themselves.
“I am very grateful that people have responded in such a positive way.”
The pop-up shop is now closed, but sign up to a workshop via richmond.gov.uk/twickenham_rediscovered
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