Closure of vehicle link between Sheen Gate and Sheen Cross remains for a year

Cyclists in Richmond Park traffic. Picture: The Royal Parks

Measures to reduce cut-through traffic in the Royal Parks will be maintained for another year, after support from the general public.

Six-month traffic trials across five London parks finished in February, and attracted almost 18,000 responses.

Overall, they indicated support and a desire to see less cut-through traffic in the parks.

As a result the full-time closure of the vehicle link between Sheen Gate and Sheen Cross in Richmond Park.

Measures will be kept in place until March 2022 and the council says they will collect additional data to get a better picture of the impact of the scheme before determining if they should be made permanent.

Of the other parks consulted on a full-time closure of part of Chestnut Avenue between Teddington and Hampton Court Gates to motor vehicles in Bushy Park saw the least support, but still had a 56 per cent rate in favour of permanent measures.

The decision to close the Avenue to vehicle traffic in Greenwich Park was the most popular, with 81 per cent of people supporting the measure to be made permanent.

Richmond Park traffic restrictions

The measures include making The Mall in St James’s Park car-free on weekends during daylight hours.

Andrew Scattergood, The Royal Parks’ Chief Executive, said, “London’s green spaces are vital refuges where people can come to escape from the busy city, and never has this been more apparent than over the past 12 months.

“These trials have proved that there is support from park visitors to limit cut-through traffic and create car-free spaces, where people can enjoy spending time in the natural environment to boost their health and happiness.

“We’ve had an enormous response to the consultation, and we want to thank everyone for their participation and for sharing their views.

“We’ll continue to work with our neighbours to monitor these projects and their impact and continue to listen to the views of park visitors.”

Sian Bayley - Local Democracy Reporter

March 9, 2021