Green Party councillor for Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside, Andrée Frieze, has announced she will not stand for re-election in May 2026.

First elected in 2018, Cllr Frieze was re-elected in 2022, when the Green Group became the only Opposition on Richmond Council.

She was appointed Opposition Leader in May 2023, having previously served as Deputy Opposition Leader. She will continue to represent her ward and lead the Opposition until the end of her term.

Cllr Frieze currently sits on the Transport, Planning, Regulatory and Wandsworth and Richmond Joint Staffing Committees, and has previously chaired the Audit, Standards and Statutory Accounts Committee as well as serving on the Education and Children's Services Committee.

During her time on the Council, the Greens have been instrumental in pushing for progressive change.

Richmond was one of the first local authorities in the UK to declare a Climate Emergency, it became an accredited Living Wage payer, and it adopted some of the country's strongest air pollution targets.

The Greens also campaigned for more compassionate approaches to collecting Council Tax arrears, stronger protections for private renters, and a bigger focus on delivering affordable housing.

Reflecting on her decision, Cllr Frieze said: "It has been an absolute honour to serve my local community in Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside.

"I have helped residents with many issues, including housing, waste, potholes, anti-social behaviour and more.

"I have been part of the community campaign against the terrible Thames Water TDRA scheme, and I will continue to fight it to protect the river, homes and local people.

"I am pleased that while I've been a councillor the regeneration of Ham Close has finally started, so that residents will benefit from new, more energy-efficient homes that meet modern standards for space and lifts for those with mobility issues.

"The regeneration also provides additional social rent homes as well as market sale homes, both of which are desperately needed across Richmond and London."

Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Chas Warlow, paid tribute, saying: "Andrée has been an inspirational leader of the Green Group and she will leave big shoes to fill.

"I know that Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside residents appreciate the unstinting work she has done for them to resolve a host of issues over the last eight years, and will be happy to see more Green councillors elected at next year's Council elections."

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