Possible Alternative
Possible Alternative: A Toll on through traffic
We understand that the Royal Parks wants to raise money and control the number of cars in the Park.
However, fewer than 10% of the cars in Bushy Park actually stop and use the car parks. The remaining 90% or more simply use the Park as a short-cut.
We suggest that the parks agency should focus on the 90% rather than penalising the 10% who are genuine Park users – dog walkers, runners, anglers, members of sports clubs or simply people who want to walk in and enjoy the Park.
A toll could be installed in such a way that only cars travelling all the way through the Park would have to pay it. Only a small amount would need to be charged – say 20p – to raise significant revenue. This would also deter some of the traffic that just uses the Park as a rat-run.
We call on the Minister and the Parks agency to consider trialling a toll to generate revenue from the vast majority of cars who are only using our Park as a rat-run instead of applying car parking charges on the minority who are genuine Park users.