What others think

 

In favour of the charges:

Margaret Hodge, Minister for Culture and Tourism

(Margaret Hodge is MP for Barking. The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham allows free car parking in Barking Park)

 

Against the charges:

Keep Bushy Park Free Alliance
Comprising: Friends of Bushy & Home Parks; Hampton Wick Association; Teddington Society; Hampton Hill Association; Hampton Society; Molesey Residents Association and the Strawberry Hill Residents Association. These groups surround Bushy Park.

NB: The KBPF Alliance petition attracted approx 6500 signatures.

 

Twickenham Parliamentary Constituency(includes Bushy Park):
Dr Vince Cable MP (Lib Dem)
Brian Tomlinson (Labour Parliamentary Candidate)
Deborah Thomas (Conservative Parliamentary Candidate)

 

Richmond Park Parliamentary Constituency:
Susan Kramer MP (Lib Dem)
Eleanor Tunnicliffe (Labour Parliamentary Candidate)
Zac Goldsmith (Conservative Parliamentary Candidate)

 

London Borough of Wandsworth;

London Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames;

London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames.

 

The parks agency's own consultation showed 84% of respondents were against the parking charges.

 

Vince Cable, MP says:

"The Royal Parks need to be clear about their objectives. I understand the need to protect the park and the animals but only 5% of the people driving through Bushy Park aim to stop and park, so it seems unfair and illogical to penalise this small minority who want to enjoy the park rather than just drive through."

 

Justine Greening, Putney MP says:

“I very much hope that the RPA will have listened and acted upon the overwhelming response from local residents against introducing car park charging.”

 

Ms Greeing also wrote to the then Health Secretary, Alan Johnson, urging him to challenge the proposals as undermining efforts to tackle obesity.

 

Susan Kramer, MP says:

"The people have spoken, and told Royal Parks that they are overwhelmingly opposed to these parking plans. "Royal Parks and the Government must now listen to local people, councils and MPs and scrap these plans altogether. The MP also raised concerns about the quality of the consultation results: "I am concerned that taxpayers' money has been spent on a report that offers no substantial analysis or recommendation about the next steps in this process." 84% of people said that they were opposed to parking charges in Richmond Park and Bushy Park. Susan Kramer MP is seeking a meeting with Barbara Follett MP, Minister for Culture and Tourism to push for the plans to be scrapped altogether.

 

Kingston leader, Councillor Derek Osbourne said:

“No one has stopped to consider the implications for traffic in the roads bordering the park. It’s unthinkable that this government body could go ahead without having carried out even the most basic studies – yet this has not happened in any of the areas affected.

 

Richmond leader, Councillor Serge Lourie said:

“It’s inevitable that drivers seeking to avoid the charges will look for spaces outside the park. While we appreciate the financial pressures on the Royal Parks, this plan to introduce parking charges will discriminate against many park users while causing parking chaos on surrounding roads at the same time. The government and the Royal Parks need to think again.”

 

Wandsworth leader, Councillor Edward Lister said:

“It’s unfair to make people pay for bringing their car to the park when the public transport options are so limited. The result will be to price out many young families and older people for whom the car is the only realistic option. The minister should reject this plan now.”

 

Tony Arbour says:

"I am very opposed to this suggestion and I have spoken to Mark Camley the Chief Executive of the Royal Parks Agency expressing the concerns of residents.”