The campaign to fight the closure of Latchmere Lane took its first steps on Wednesday when the working party held its first meeting at the Hawker Centre.

Residents from Kingston and Richmond were united in outrage at the decision by Richmond Council to put a barrier across the street next year to cut the volume of traffic using the road.

Christopher Burstall, who has lived in Latchmere Road for 40 years, was appointed chairman and he demanded public consultation on the matter.

"Richmond Council has not done enough to test public opinion and we look to the Surrey Comet to help us campaign to put this right," he said.

"A lot of people know nothing about the plan and a great majority of those are strongly opposed to the closure - Richmond Council has not tested opinion."

Mr Burstall asked for a neighbourly attitude in the months of conflict ahead.

"It is important to establish in the minds of Richmond Council that they have been slightly off-target in their understanding about what local residents really want."

The party divided itself into groups to canvass local opinion and Richmond Council will listen to their arguments at a meeting in November.

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