“Future generations will thank us” – that was the message from the Friends of Twickenham Riverside after it re-submitted a planning application for the old Twickenham baths.

The group believe the plans, which have been on display at Arthur’s by the River cafe, would preserve the historic public use of the site and prove to be an asset to the town centre by providing space for open-air ice skating, charity fairs and markets.

Friends of Twickenham Riverside member Scott Naylor said: “The scheme includes environmentally sustainable measures making use of the existing land and buildings on the site.

“It preserves the historical public use of this beautiful open space which, from 1924, has been continued over the years by the public swimming pool, the present playground and Jubilee Gardens.”

This is the second time the plan has been submitted after it was originally returned by Richmond Council on May 7, for not containing enough detail – something the Twickenham Riverside and Terrace Group dubbed “pure and simply delaying tactics”.

This time, however, the application has been validated and payment has been accepted.

Mr Naylor said: “Future generations will not forgive us as custodians of our open land if we let a publicly owned, open space become a private housing estate for the wealthy, taking up 60 per cent plus of the Riverside, leaving just 11 per cent of the whole site of very unrelaxing, overshadowed and severely overlooked sloping space for the people of Twickenham and those who love to walk along and use our special artisan environment, river and riverside.”