A YouTube channel launched last year has attracted eyeballs in Kew with its series on Pensford Field's lease and the handling of it by Richmond Council.

Richmond Council Watch (RCW), created by citizen journalist Martin Baker in March 2024, has gained traction for its detailed investigation into the early termination of the lease for Pensford Field Environmental Trust (PFET) – a local conservation charity – and the Council's decision to transfer the site to mental health charity Dose of Nature (DoN).

The software developer with a background in television was inspired by Colchester Council Watch, a similar YouTube channel which holds Colchester Council to account, to launch his own Richmond version.

Baker's series of videos, now watched by thousands across the borough, alleges that the Council made the decision without proper public consultation and "misled" residents in the process.

"The way the Council operates is that there really is no democracy," Baker told Richmond Nub News.

"They claim there's democracy, but there just is not. There's no scrutiny of things... and what's most alarming is that the Council doesn't even stick to its own rules."

Baker first learned about the issue at a Community Conversation meeting on 24 September 2024, when residents confronted Council Leader Councillor Gareth Roberts about the future of Pensford Field.

He recalled: "There were two very upset speakers having a go at Gareth Roberts, and I thought, 'That's interesting – there could be a story here.'

"I went away, looked into it, and found that the Council was planning to take the lease away from the Pensford Field Environmental Trust early. It just didn't sit right."

Originally, PFET's lease was due to expire in March 2028, but the Council announced it would end in September 2025 to make way for DoN – a decision it says was made urgently to prevent the charity from relocating to neighbouring Hounslow.

Martin Baker was inspired by Colchester Council Watch to create his own Richmond version (credit: Cesar Medina).

Baker has since produced three videos scrutinising the decision-making process, alleging that the lease termination was orchestrated behind closed doors without democratic oversight.

"The decision went to a directors' board meeting – that's top-level Council officers like the Director of Environment and the Director of Mental Health," Baker explained.

"That was on 4 July 2024, and they recommended terminating the lease.

"The Trust put in a Freedom of Information request for the minutes of that meeting.

"The Council said, 'We can't give them – the decision's still in flux.' But it's not in flux. The decision had already been made. It's just a cat-and-mouse game."

The next step, Baker says, was a Committee Chairs meeting, where senior councillors endorsed the officers' recommendation.

The decision was then delegated to Tunde Ogbe, the Head of Asset Management for both Richmond and Wandsworth Councils.

During a full Council meeting in December 2024, a member of the public asked why the lease termination was not classed as a Key Decision, which would require committee review if it impacted two or more wards.

The Council said the decision didn't meet the financial or geographic threshold. But Baker and PFET disagree, pointing to the Council's own Equality Impact Needs Assessment (EINA), which assessed the impact of transferring the lease to DoN across 37 wards in Richmond and Kingston.

Baker alleges the Council 'misled' residents in its decision to terminate Pensford Field Environmental Trust's lease early (credit: Cesar Medina).

Now, as part of the Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 process, the Council is inviting objections to its proposal to grant a 10 year lease to DoN.

Objections will be reviewed ahead of a committee meeting on Wednesday, 25 June 2025.

Asked how he sees it playing out, Baker admitted he wasn't sure.

He said: "Honestly, I don't know. The pessimistic view is they'll just vote it through. The optimistic view is that they'll be in a very difficult position to push it through, given the number of objections they might receive."

He added: "If I could sit down with Cllr Roberts, I'd ask, 'Why has this played out the way it has? What is really going on?' Because I'm convinced that what we've been told is not what's really happening."

Baker also believes the current political climate has made the Council less responsive to public concerns.

"Since 2022, with the current balance of councillors, they've got complacent, they think they're untouchable," he admitted. "That's why Richmond Council Watch is important. It's about reminding them they're here to serve us – not rule over us."

Residents have until 22 May to submit objections to the proposed lease transfer of Pensford Field to Dose of Nature (credit: Brian Secrett).

In response, DoN founder Alison Greenwood told Richmond Nub News: "If Dose of Nature is awarded the lease, every member of the community will be welcome to access Pensford Field – including PFET members. That has always been our intention and was stated clearly in our original proposal."

Asked about if RCW's portrayal of the situation was fair and accurate, she added: "Unfortunately not. The videos are full of misleading statements and misrepresentations of fact.

"While the Council has acknowledged mistakes in communication, the idea that DoN has acted without integrity is completely untrue."

Council Leader Cllr Gareth Roberts has acknowledged "shortcomings" in how PFET was informed of the decision, but said the move is necessary to protect mental health services in the borough.

"Had we been unable to find a permanent home for Dose of Nature, we would have risked losing them from the borough," he wrote in a letter to PFET in September 2024.

"Our residents would have lost access to a much-valued, much-respected service."

A Richmond Council spokesperson told Richmond Nub News: "The Council is undertaking a statutory process to seek the community's views on the proposed future use of Pensford Field.

"All feedback received will be carefully considered before any decisions are made, and the outcome will be published in due course. 

"We remain committed to working with outgoing and incoming custodians of the field to support long-term public access to the site, while ensuring it is managed in a way that reflects the interests of all stakeholders."

The draft lease states the field must remain a nature reserve, accessible to other groups via a booking system, and that DoN will submit annual plans on its upkeep and activities.

For now, all eyes are on the 25 June committee meeting, where public objections to the lease transfer will be considered.

To find out more about Richmond Council Watch and if you would like to get involved with the channel, email [email protected].

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