The House of Lords today voted against a proposal to put an end to the controversial parking charge scheme in Richmond and Bushy parks.

Instead, the House opted to pass a motion by Conservative peer, Lord Greville Howard, which calls on the Government to rethink its decision to introduce fees in the Royal Parks-run open spaces.

Campaigners from the Friends of Bushy and Home Parks (FBHP) and Richmond Park MP Susan Kramer said they were "bitterly disappointed" by the result.

For an hour the sitting Lords heard passionate talks about the need to scrap the plan and keep the parks free for visiting drivers - but Conservatives refused to support a Lib Dem fatal motion to stop the charges from becoming reality.

To ensure a message was delivered to the Government, the Lib Dems were subsequently forced to give the thumbs up to the Tory motion.

Baroness Jenny Tonge urged the House to "stop the Government in its tracks", warning that the Conservative motion was not strong enough.

Lord Howard hit back by saying that the Lib Dem's fatal motion went too far, adding: "If a Conservative Government is elected on May 6 this order (to introduce fees) will be rescinded and the charges annulled."

Labour peer, Lord Bill Brett, rounded off the speeches by reiterating his party's support for the unpopular fees.

The fatal motion put forward by Baroness Tonge - backed by Ms Kramer and about 40 onlookers at tonight's debate - would have seen the fees of up to £1 an hour killed off completely but it was voted down by 48 votes to 71.

The Conservatives saw their motion passed by 136 to 71.

After the debate, campaigners said they viewed the result as a defeat - claiming the Government would still approve the parking charge proposal even though it has been asked to rethink it.

Despite the disappointment, FBHP chairman, Pieter Morpurgo, promised to "fight on".

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