UPDATED: Culture minister Margaret Hodge gives green light for parking charges at Richmond and Bushy parks
Parking charges in Richmond and Bushy Park were today given the go-ahead by the Government.
The decision by culture minister Margaret Hodge to approve daily car park fees of up to £1 per hour comes after months of campaigning against the charges by residents, associations, borough councils and MPs.
According to the Royal Parks, the changes will be brought in later this year, providing they receive parliamentary approval - something MPs Susan Kramer and Vince Cable have pledged to try and prevent.
Ms Kramer, MP for Richmond Park, is inviting residents to Parliament to protest on the day MPs are given an opportunity to prevent the decision becoming law within 40 days.
It is thought this will be within the next few weeks.
Drivers in Richmond Park face an hourly £1 charge, with a maximum fee of £3, while visitors to Bushy Park will pay 50p for every hour - the maximum charge being £2.
Colin Buttery, deputy chief executive at the Royal Parks, said: “At a maximum of £2 a day at Bushy Park and £3 a day at Richmond Park, the charges are similar to the cost of a cup of coffee and compare favourably with car parks locally and at similar amenities.”
In a letter from Ms Hodge to the borough’s MPs, she claimed she was “well aware” of the opposition to parking charges.
However, Ms Hodge said a recent study concluded that poorer communities would not be penalised by the fees and that charges would not lead to a significant amount of drivers parking in roads around the parks.
Ms Kramer said: “It is outrageous that the Government is choosing to ignore the strength of opposition to these parking plans.
“I am also extremely concerned that the very real worries of residents about displacement of parking onto residential roads have not been taken on board.
“The message I want to give residents is that the fight is not over yet. I will continue to campaign through every avenue in Parliament and outside to stop these charges being introduced.”
Dr Cable added: “The Government has acknowledged that there is massive opposition, yet has decided to impose charges regardless. Although this will not come as shock, it is a real slap in the face for residents.
“The battle is not over. The Government still has to seek Parliamentary ratification. My colleagues and I will fight it every step of the way.”
It is not yet known whether a Richmond Park rally, designed to show the Government the strength of feeling against the charges, will still take place on January 30.
Other changes included in the plans are the reduction of the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph in Bushy and allowing private hire vehicles into the parks.
Ms Hodge also said she was scrapping a proposed six-hour maximum stay in both parks, as well as exploring the possibility of a land train in Richmond Park.
She is due to meet council leaders from Richmond, Wandsworth and Kingston on Monday.
To join Ms Kramer and show your opposition in parliament visit susankramer.org.uk/pages/keep-up-the-fight-on-richmond-park.html
http://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/48536 ... shy_parks/
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