The local elections on May 7 are fast approaching and voters in Richmond will soon be heading to the polls.
But who can you vote for, what are their policies and which issues are most important for locals?
Where is Richmond?
Richmond is an affluent town in southwest London, surrounded by nature with the River Thames, Kew Gardens and Richmond Park all in walking distance.
What happened in the last election?
At the last local elections in 2022, the Liberal Democrats took control of the council with 55% of the votes, while the Conservatives lost ten seats.
Liberal Democrats 48 (+9)
Greens 5 (+1)
Conservatives 1 (-10)
Local issues
Richmond is an affluent town, having been consistently named as one of London’s wealthiest boroughs, with average house prices reaching £797,000 this year, compared to London’s average £542,000.
However, it has faced issues with burglary, with jewellers’ shop Gregory & Co having been targeted by two masked men in broad daylight in an attack in January, with a shocking video having circulated widely on social media.
Almost 2,000 also recently signed a petition against the closure of 120-year-old Shacklegate Allotments, with the council having proposed to reclaim the area to allow for more burials at Teddington Cemetery.
There have also been concerns about road safety, particularly at the busy Queens Rd/Manor Rd/Sheen Rd Junction, with a petition calling for changes to traffic signals and pedestrian crossings after accidents were reported.
Who are the ones to watch?
According to last week’s YouGov poll of 4,548 adults, the Lib Dems are expected to hold the council.
Polling site Pollcheck also predicts they will win 46 seats, at 54% of the vote share, with the party needing 27 for a majority.
The deadline to register to vote was at 12am on Monday 20 April, with polling from 10am to 7pm on Thursday 7 May.
A full list of candidates can be found on the Richmond Council website.
Interesting facts
Richmond, which has a population of around 195,000, was named the ‘happiest place to live’ in the UK according to Rightmove’s 2023 ‘happy at home’ index, while the same poll named it the best place to live in London last year.
Founded in 1071, the area has long had royal ties, as it is home to Richmond Castle, built by Henry VII in 1501, Hampton Court Palace, built for Richard III and Mary II, and the 2,500-acre Richmond Park, created in the 17th century by Charles I.
It is home to many high-profile residents, including Sir David Attenborough, who has lived there for more than 70 years, as well as actor Richard. E. Grant, while famous couples ‘Brangelina’ and Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall also previously owned homes there.
It is also the main filming location for Apple TV+’s most-watched series Ted Lasso, a comedy series about an American soccer coach hired to train a fictional English football team, ‘AFC Richmond’.
Featured Image Credit: Camellia Yang on Unsplash
Join the discussion