Residents across Richmond Borough will take to the polls on Thursday, 7 May to decide their local councillors for the next four years.

All 54 seats of Richmond Council are up for grabs across all 18 local government wards.

Nub News has reached out to every party standing candidates in the Twickenham Riverside ward, asking for a short statement about their policies and why locals should vote for them.

This is what they said:

James Chard - Liberal Democrats

James Chard - Liberal Democrats

James Chard lives in the local area, and has been your local councillor for the past eight years. James is a passionate Vice Chair of the Transport and Air Quality Committee, and has been particularly involved in ensuring work has at least begun on the regeneration of the riverside in central Twickenham. Outside council work, James is a solicitor and has also recently completed a PhD in Psychology. 

Andrew Duncan - Liberal Democrats

Andrew Duncan - Liberal Democrats

Andrew Duncan has raised his family in this borough and is passionate about giving back to the community. He supports businesses and residents of Richmond Riverside during increasing financial pressure. Andrew represented Great Britain in sprint canoeing, building discipline, resilience and teamwork. He served thirty years in the Metropolitan Police, always putting the community first. A career highlight was serving as the Mayor's Macebearer, supporting civic events and representing the borough. 

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Julia Neden-Watts - Liberal Democrats

Julia Neden-Watts - Liberal Democrats

With eight years' experience as a councillor, Deputy Leader Julia Neden-Watts has a strong record of service to Twickenham. First elected in 2018, she has chaired the Environment Committee since 2020 and served as Joint Deputy Leader since 2022. Julia is passionate about parks, playgrounds, trees and rivers, and promotes healthy, active lives for children. Outside politics, she enjoys hiking, playing piano and baking cakes.

Maggie Brown - Green Party

Maggie Brown - Green Party

I have lived in Twickenham Riverside for two years and love the area! I can bring a lifetime of experience to the Council having worked as a probation officer in the UK and later in social policy internationally with UN agencies and other organisations. My particular local focus would be on the quality and availability of social care and in making a reality of the Council's commitments to net zero, including retrofitting housing.

Steve Roest - Green Party

Steve Roest - Green Party

I'm a former parliamentary candidate for the Green Party in Twickenham, where I've lived for 35 years. I currently work in the renewable energy sector and founded a charity to protect endangered wildlife. The 49 Lib Dem councillors all claim to care about the planet, but they aren't doing enough to tackle the emergencies we face here at home. Help us bring balance back to the Council by electing more Greens.

Merhala Selvarajah - Green Party

Merhala Selvarajah - Green Party

I'm standing for the Green Party because we're focused on solving the cost of living crisis, especially for younger people who risk being priced out of areas like ours. Despite the dominance of the Lib Dems across south west London, going with the Greens on 7th May doesn't mean you'll be wasting your vote. You'll send those in power a clear message not to take your support for granted.

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Oliver Needs - Reform UK

Oliver Needs - Reform UK

I attended Emanuel Secondary School. I wish to be able to make a difference and use my expertise, particularly in the areas of arts and nature. The Council needs better democratic challenge and to be held to account. For example Twickenham Riverside project agreed on at £50m has ballooned into an £67m project through mismanagement. More wasted money and poor decision making.

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Candidates from the Twickenham Riverside ward not included in this article did not respond to our request before the deadline.