By Community Correspondent Nick Coats

I have previously written a piece for this paper on the planned parking charges for Richmond Park and discussed the different views on the issue. That was at a time when Margaret Hodge MP had yet to make her decision. Well she has made her decision and parking charges are indeed going to be imposed on visitors to the park. But it isn’t the details of the new rules being brought in that have caught my eye, it was the reaction to the news that was so great and, in my view, proves that the charges are deeply unpopular.

Two weeks ago over 1000, maybe more, protesters gathered outside the Pembroke Lodge in Richmond Park to express their disgust at the plans and signed their names on a large white board. Among those signing the board was Zac Goldsmith, the Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Richmond. In an address to the crowd he said “the fact that so many people have turned up proves what a colossal misjudgement the Royal Parks and the Government have made in attempting to impose parking charges”.

It isn’t just the Conservatives who are angry at the government’s decision, the Liberal Democrats’ Vince Cable, MP for Twickenham wrote to Margaret Hodge MP saying “This is a classic case of an unelected quango behaving in an arrogant, high handed way.” Dr Cable MP and Susan Kramer, MP for Richmond Park, are now reportedly trying to get the issue discussed in the House of Commons. Susan Kramer MP said “The Government must realise that the huge opposition to the introduction of charges is not going away, and that the battle is not over yet.”

So, as you can see, there is deep opposition from residents and politicians alike but can this fierce opposition be converted into progress? Is there a chance the charges can be revoked at the last minute? Yes is the simple answer. There is the small matter of Margaret Hodge gaining approval in the House of Commons. With several MPs opposed to the measures there could quite easily be a vote in the House of Commons on the issue which might lead to the charges being scrapped. Vince Cable MP and Susan Kramer MP have already suggested they will launch a challenge: “We shall use parliamentary procedures to put up as much opposition as we can.”

Opposition remains high and there is still hope for the people who use and love the park.