Huge rally in support of keeping our parks free

On Saturday 30th January a huge crowd turned out to demonstrate against the much-hated car parking charges threatening Bushy and Richmond Parks.

Rally against car parking charges in Bushy Park

Despite freezing temperatures, up to 2,000 people attended a rally held in Richmond Park to protest against Minister Margaret Hodge’s decision to force through car parking charges in both Bushy and Richmond Parks. Her decision flies in the face of massive public opposition as well as opposition from all local councils and all local MPs and parliamentary candidates from across the party political spectrum.

The Keep Bushy Park Free Alliance turned out in force, making sure that we were not forgotten despite the rally taking place in Richmond Park.

Pieter Morpurgo from the Keep Bushy Park Free Alliance addresses the rally.

The rally was addressed by Zac Goldsmith (Conservative parliamentary candidate for Richmond Park), Dr Vince Cable (Lib Dem MP for Twickenham), Justine Greening (Conservative MP for Putney) and Susan Kramer (Lib Dem MP for Richmond Park). All the politicians opposed the parking charges and promised to do all they can to block them, or to repeal them if the proposal does go forward under the current Government.

 

But the biggest cheers were those for the speech by Pieter Morpurgo, representing the Keep Bushy Park Free Alliance. He said: “Bushy Park is a free space gifted by the crown for the public’s free use, and it must remain so. It should not become a space only for those who can afford it.”

He went on to question Minister Hodge’s reasoning: “This is not Central London – this is a rural park just like Margaret Hodge’s Barking Park, where there are no parking charges. Why does she think we in west London should be different from her area?”

Click here to read Pieter’s speech in full.

The rally was covered by the BBC as well as local news:

Richmond & Twickenham Times: New Richmond Park charges could stall
Arcadian Times
Riversniffers
www.radiojackie.com - report & photos
www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk - report & photos
www.kingstonpeople.co.uk - report
www.kingstonpeople.co.uk - photos

If you know of any more interesting reports please click here to let me know.
NB: These links were correct at time of last updating this article - 02/01/2010.

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