Richmond Park News: 10 July 2026

Sarah Olney MP
Jul 10
5 min read

ITV LONDON LATE DEBATE

On Wednesday, I appeared on the ITV London Late Debate alongside Dawn Butler MP and Conservative member of the London Assembly, Neil Garratt.

With Andy Burnham’s coronation as Prime Minister expected in just over a week’s time, the panel discussed what London can expect. I raised the important issue of the misconception about London’s wealth, with it having the highest poverty and homelessness rates, whilst funding continues to be directed away from many of London’s Councils.

The debate then turned to the topic of Hammersmith Bridge, with Hammersmith & Fulham Council's recent decision not to apply for funding to fix the bridge to a standard which would enable buses and blue lights to cross once again.

If the new Prime Minister wants to show he’s intent on fixing issues in the hearts of communities, he should look no further than Hammersmith Bridge. You can watch a clip of my appearance by clicking here.

DEFRA QUESTION ON THE TEDDINGTON DIRECT RIVER ABSTRACTION

Thames Water’s Teddington Direct River Abstraction (TDRA) proposal would wreak havoc on our local communities, damaging the water quality in our area, while costing hundreds of millions of pounds.

In oral questions for the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, I asked the Minister for Water and Flooding, Emma Hardy MP, if she would ensure that Thames Water would not be allowed to dump treated sewage into the stream above Teddington Lock, and if she would meet with me to discuss the scheme.

While the Minister correctly noted that Ham and Kingston Riverside would be subject to frequent water quality testing from the Environmental Agency following its designation as bathing water status, she did not make reference to the damages that the multi-million pound project could cause.

I have followed-up with the Minister to request a more detailed response, and you can view this letter by clicking here.

You can also watch a clip of my question and the Minister’s response by clicking here.

CONSERVATIVE OPPOSITION DAY ON SUMMER JOBS

On Tuesday, the Conservatives held an Opposition Day Debate on the availability of summer jobs, and I represented the Liberal Democrats’ concerns regarding this matter in my capacity as Business Spokesperson.

As businesses are already struggling with unaffordably high energy bills, the government's National Insurance Contributions hike and recent business rates increases, many business owners are thinking twice about how many jobs they can offer for the summer period.

This growing scarcity of seasonal work will mainly hit young people, some of whom are reliant on income from summer jobs to help get them through the year. Youth unemployment in the UK hit record heights this year, and I urged the government to provide more support to small and medium sized businesses to enable them to provide openings for students who are struggling to find work.

You can watch a clip of my speech by clicking here.

KINGSTON GATE WARD MEETING

On Thursday, I hosted a community event on the Kingsnympton estate, where I was able to discuss local and national issues with the residents.

It was a good opportunity to discuss the work that my Liberal Democrat colleagues and I have been doing in Parliament over the last few months, but more importantly to hear the issues that matter most to my constituents.

We discussed many important issues, including traffic management, housing issues specific to the estate, as well as issues which affect the whole country, youth unemployment. I always enjoy hearing from my constituents, and would encourage you to get in touch if you have any issues, by emailing me on sarah.olney.mp@parliament.uk

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE

The Public Accounts Committee session on Monday covered the work of the former Covid-Counter Fraud Commissioner, Tom Hayhoe, following his final report on COVID-19-related fraud, recovery efforts, ongoing risks, and key recommendations to strengthen public sector resilience and counter-fraud capacity.

During the session, Tom highlighted an issue which he found to be significantly concerning. Firstly, he highlighted that the ‘Ministers Directive Framework,’ which was utilised during the pandemic and provides Ministers with powers to act outside of their traditional checks and balances, does not have a sunset clause. This means, theoretically, Ministers could indefinitely hold additional powers which are meant to only be extended in exceptional circumstances.

You can watch a clip of my question to Tom Hayhoe and his responses by clicking here.

COMMUNITY NEWS

BARNES FAIR

On Saturday 11 July 2026 between 9:30-17:30pm, Barnes Fair, one of southwest London’s

biggest and best community fundraising events, returns.

There will be over 300 stalls, live entertainment, delicious food and drink, and fun for the whole family, a highlight of the summer calendar. The BCA will be serving its famous PIMMS all day long, while the Bandstand comes alive with music from brilliant local bands and choirs.

Every penny raised helps support the work of the Barnes Community Association, funding projects and initiatives that make a difference in our community.

The Fair will be held on Barnes Green, and entry is free.

For more information, please click here.

RICHMOND TOWN CENTRE STAGE FESTIVAL

Starting next Friday, 17 July, Richmond Town Centre will be hosting 3 days of festivities with the return of the Council’s Centre Stage initiative.

It is important to note that George Street will be closed a week on Saturday, 18 July, as markets and performances will be hosted on the road.

For more information regarding the events and what will be happening on each day, please click here.

RICHMOND BOROUGH MEETING ON A THIRD RUNWAY AT HEATHROW

Thursday 23 July between 19:30-21:30, there will be an open community meeting to discuss the plans for a third runway at Heathrow following the government’s release of the Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement.

The meeting will be a forum at which the details of the government’s National Policy Statement will be discussed, while engagement from the public will be welcomed.

Everyone is welcome to attend to voice their opinions, but you must sign-up in advance, and you can do so by clicking here.