Campaigners opposed to controversial plans to sell off Twickenham Riverside for private development have taken their fight to the Prime Minister.

On a wet Monday, the protesters knocked on the door of No 10 Downing Street in the hope that the Government will prevent Richmond Council’s plans to build 32 houses and a River Centre on the site of the former Twickenham pool.

Adorned in “Save Our Riverside” jumpers, a select group of campaigners handed in a petition signed by more than 8,500 people, accompanied with a letter addressed to the PM explaining their plight.

The petition asked people to show their support if they believed the site should be turned predominantly into a public space and follows a referendum carried out in the St Mary’s parish, Twickenham, of which 93.5 per cent of the 47 per cent who voted, disagreed with the disposal of land for private development.

Friends of Twickenham Riverside member, Scott Naylor, said: “The reason we came to Downing Street is simply down to the apparent lack of willing from the council to act in a democratic fashion.

“With 8,500 people signing the petition and the numbers growing at an increasing rate every week, it’s very clear that the people of Twickenham and the surrounding areas are aware of the realities of what Councillor Serge Lourie is trying to drop on the local people like a bomb.

“We felt left with no alternative but to take matters right to the top of the country’s administration, 10 Downing Street, in order to look for the appropriate democratic help we believe Richmond Council hasn’t shown.”

The letter requested the Government and the Financial Services Authority should intervene to request that Lloyds Bank stop the Countryside Group (CG), of which favoured contractors to develop the site - Countryside Properties - are part of, entering into a contract with Richmond Council.

The campaigners claim that as major shareholders in Lloyds Bank the Government have a responsibility in the case of CG, which is half owned by HBOS and indebted to by a reported £300m.

Council leader Serge Lourie said he had seen the petition.

He said: "This petition is one of many that purport to be the same petition but in fact the words have changed over time. The copy I have refers to ‘23 years of neglect’ so it must be six years old as the site has been vacant for 19 years.

"In fact, the council is proposing almost all that the people who signerd the petiton want. The river centre and public open space will cover three quarters of the site and the housing a quarter.

"At no cost to the council taxpayer the council scheme will achieve a river centre, a better playground, a larger cafe and significant improvements to the embankment.”