Twickenham is facing a 'real crisis' with empty shops and multiple banks closing down, a councillor has said.

The alarm has been sounded by the one remaining Conservative on Richmond Borough Council, Cllr Geoffrey Samuel.

He told the Council's Finance committee this week that state of Twickenham's main shopping street – King Street - is 'the most worrying' in the borough.

And he raised concerns that no direct reference to it had been included in a council report on high streets and efforts to boost economic recovery following the impact of Covid.

Cllr Samuel said: "In King Street, at the moment, we have three empty shops next to one another. By June, all four banks will have gone.

"Not just that, they are huge buildings, but that does mean that they are seeing the end of Twickenham as a business centre and that there will be a knock-on effect on trade as many people after going to the bank will go to the local shops."

Lib Dem councillor Phil Giesler, lead member for business growth, called the observation fair.

He said Twickenham Business Improvement District, which is made up of local businesses, is looking to bring shoppers back to the town.

Cllr Giesler said the authority needs to 'understand what the mission is for Twickenham' and it is a 'bit of a midsize centre that does suffer a little bit'.

Accepting the need for improvements, he added: "So, I don't have any clear action at the moment to talk to you about but I do share your concerns. It is a gap."

The Lib Dem council leader Gareth Roberts said there were reasons for optimism linked to the plan to spend millions revamping of the part-derelict Twickenham Riverside 'will certainly revitalise parts of Twickenham and hopefully that will generate further'.

The plans will see 45 new homes, shops, cafés, open space and a pub built next to the River Thames in Twickenham.

Cllr Roberts said work had been done in Church Street, which has been pedestrianised and is now the jewel in the crown of the centre of Twickenham.

He also argued that former banks in the borough have found tenants. For example, an old NatWest is about to be converted into a Megan's restaurant and bar, while a bank in East Sheen has been replaced by a Gail's bakery.

A Council report said the council is investing cash in high streets and working with businesses to promote town centres to residents through campaigns and events.

Cllr Giesler said: "There's a lot of activity happening in the economic development area which I think is right given the economic situation we find ourselves in and... that we want to basically boost our high streets, help employment and help enterprise in the borough as well."

The committee agreed to the council entering into an agreement with the Greater London Authority (GLA) for £769,771 of UK Shared Prosperity Funding to support local businesses, community facilities and address the cost-of-living crisis facing residents.