Plans to introduce car parking charges in Richmond Park should be ditched after the public overwhelmingly rejected the idea, Wandsworth Council has said.
After a public consultation, carried out by the Royal Parks Agency (RPA), showed 84 per cent of people are opposed to the idea of charges council leader Councillor Edward Lister called on Barbara Follett, minister for culture, media and sport, to reject the proposal.
He said: “It is utterly inconceivable the minister could now give these charges the green light. If she were to ignore the results of this consultation it would show breathtaking arrogance on her part.
“The public have given these plans a huge and unmistakable thumbs-down. The minister would be well advised to heed that message.”
Wandsworth and other councils have been vocal in opposing the plan, arguing the introduction of parking charges would deter park visitors, especially those on low incomes.
It said the lack of public transport into the park would have also put off many elderly and disabled visitors as well as families with very young children.
Residents were also critical of the plans.
Over the course of its 13-week consultation, the RPA received 2,000 individual responses and five petitions, containing 13,000 signatures from those opposed to the charges in Richmond and Bushy Parks.
Petitions placed on the Downing Street website attracted 5,759 names.
One individual response submitted to the RPA said: “The park is a beautiful facility for young children and I feel that making access more expensive would disproportionately discourage this group.”
Another said: "With three children under the age of eight, I cannot envisage getting a bus with scooters, balls and picnic paraphernalia, etc, and the children.”
A third said: “Introducing parking charges will change the whole ethos of (the parks) where people go to relax and unwind. It is practically impossible to know how long one will be in one of the parks.”
A decision on the plan is due by the end of the year.
To view the results of the RPA's consultation in detail visit www.royalparks.org.uk.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here