Hourly rate of up to £2 proposed with six hour maximum stay

Richmond Park aerial view. Picture: The Royal Parks

Parking charges could be introduced in Richmond Park to curb traffic and encourage visitors to travel in more sustainable ways.

The Royal Parks is holding an eight-week public consultation on the proposals, running from this Monday (7 September) until 1 November, which are also designed to better manage demand for parking spaces and generate income to help maintain the car parks.

The scheme would include a maximum stay of six hours.

Blue Badge parking and parking for motorcyclists will continue to be free, but still subject to the maximum-stay limit.

The fees for both parks would be £1.40 per hour Monday to Saturday, and £2.00 per hour on Sunday,.

The Royal Parks said this consultation on the introduction of parking charges is a separate project to the recent launch of trials across five parks to reduce cut-through motor traffic on park roads, which will take place later in the autumn.

The move has been welcomed by local cyclists. A member of Richmond Cycling, which is part of the London Cycling Campaign, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the move “will provide urgently needed revenue for the parks, ensure there is space for those who genuinely need to drive to the parks, and reflects London-wide policy on re-balancing transport towards active and public travel modes.”

They added: “We'd be asking councils to look carefully at the proposals to ensure this doesn't simply encourage ‘fly parking' in surrounding roads, and also suggest that the parks consider whether some of the revenue could support a circular bus or similar to support visitors with limited mobility.”

To have your say on the proposals you can fill in the online questionnaire.

Or you can email on  consultation@royalparks.org.uk

Written submissions should be addressed to:

TRP – Parking Charges

The Old Police House

Hyde Park, London. W2 2UH

Sian Bayley - Local Democracy Reporter

September 8, 2020