RICHMOND AND BUSHY PARKS AND CAR PARKING CHARGES

That this House notes with concern that the Government's decision to introduce car parking charges into Richmond Park and Bushy Park will reduce use of the parks for exercise and recreation, especially by people on lower incomes; further notes the massive local opposition expressed in petitions to the Royal Parks Agency; further notes that the Government's approach contrasts with the excellent programme of free access to national museums and galleries; recognises that public transport to the gates of the parks is poor and that public transport is non-existent within the parks so that access to much of the acreage is only by car or for the very fit; realises that car parking will be displaced into residential areas outside the gates, leaving residents with no option except expensive and inconvenient controlled parking zones for the weekends and bank holidays; believes that the proposal is largely irrelevant to the environmental objective of reducing the flow of through traffic; and calls on the Government to meet park users to consider other mechanisms for raising funds and to reverse its decision on introducing car parking charges.