How we have been making Richmond upon Thames a nice place to be

It's summer in the borough, even though the sun might not know it, and there's been plenty going on to showcase why Richmond upon Thames is a nice place to be.

As the only London borough that straddles the Thames, we have a unique identity that energises our public spaces and attracts visitors. That's why this month we have been highlighting and developing the safe, accessible ways we work to bring communities together and celebrate the borough's rich heritage.

Although July has been less warm than expected, young people still gather on the riverbanks from across southwest London to swim in the Thames. The water is inviting, particularly during hot weather, and as great as it can be for cooling off it's essential that everyone enjoys the river safely, especially following the tragic death of 14 year-old Brian Sasu last year. We know the Thames is a hotspot so we partnered with the RNLI and London Fire Brigade for a campaign to prevent another tragedy from happening and to teach young people how to help if they see someone in trouble.

We are the greenest borough in London so we are keen to help residents spend more time outside experiencing our parks. From a new, free minibus service to Richmond Park to our Friendly Parks for All programme, there is many examples of how the borough is making sure everyone can easily access green spaces. Not only have we been looking at ways to improve accessibility but have also introduced new ways for residents to explore the great outdoors with Teddington Library opening its garden for a special selection of reading sessions that help you spend time in the fresh air.

This month was a fantastic opportunity to show off some of work being done to keep our climate credentials as green as our parks.  So we have been making the most of Plastic Free July – promoting the local businesses across the borough making it easier for you to buy your staples whilst limiting the waste of single-use plastics. Whilst we are on the topic – don’t forget your reusable water bottle if you’re out and about in our parks, so you can benefit from the free drinking fountains dotted around to keep you hydrated and reduce plastic waste.

July marked the start of South Asian Heritage Month, providing a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the South Asian people who live, work, study and run businesses in Richmond upon Thames and make the borough a lovely place to live. The theme, Stories to Tell, has given us all a chance to hear from locals about their family histories and cherished memories that influenced their personal journeys. You can hear some of these stories here.

With the launch of the Richmond Lates programme, giving us all a taste of how to make the most of our evenings, July has been the perfect time to promote the Night-time Strategy consultation. Running until September 2023, the survey means you can have your say on how to make that time between 6pm and 6am a better, safer and more inclusive experience for everyone – meaning the evenings can be just as fantastic as day time in the borough.

We want to improve on the quality of our public spaces, so they are more people-friendly and this is how we are working to deliver on our vision.

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