Forum Topic

Parking Charges for Richmond Park

First it was the gradual but steep hike in admission to Kew Gardens, then it was fees to park in Kews car park, then the fees went up steeply.Very few local people now visit the place during the week in winter and far fewer during the week in summer.It's older retired people who are getting stuffed. Going by car, taking friends who otherwise seldom get out has been the norm since the car and living longer became a fixture of our age.Now it is Richmond Park.Extraordinarily. It is a Labour, yes Labour minister who has rubber stamped the Royal Parks long desire to impose charges to park in Richmond Park.So yet again, another part of the heritage and property of the state, already funded by the people of this nation becomes something for just the able and haves of society.Stuff the less well off and the elderly.Maybe if the Government took a closer look at just how many 'consultants' and administrators now work for the Royal Parks and how much they cost along with the many gardeners and ground workers that have been disposed of something would be rather telling of it's methods.It would not surprise me in the least if these all turn out to be the usual pals of politicians all in the comfortable carriages of the gravy train.

Anthony Waller ● 5948d6 Comments

Reminds me of the story from 2005 when The Lake District Authority were considering cancelling volunteer-led tourist walks because they did not attract enough disabled, young or ethnic minority visitors. Crazy stuff - full story here: http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/lake-district-walks-for-white-middle-classes-rather-than-ethnic-minorities-win-a-reprieve-489148.html

Mick Brent ● 5946d

You should read the Royal Park report justifying the charges. It beggars belief.Apparently, Black and Asian people do not use the park and when they do they do not go by car. This implies that A. The charges are justified as 'poor people and ethnic people won't be affected by charges as they are too poor to have cars'and B. Black and Asian people do not have cars. That makes charging OK then.They claim that only ABC1s use the park. That is certainly apparent on weekends but most certainly not true during the week.And as a very frequent user of the park I can say that there are always people of many races enjoying the place.Do they think that people of Hounslow and Southall are restricted from travelling if they are not white?And the Secretary of State rubber stamped such a disgracefully researched proposal?She should be ashamed. Weekend charges maybe but not more than 50p would be more than enough.How much do these people at the Royal Parks HQ get paid and who are they? Who appointed them?I'm disgusted, it will harm the less well off who always seem to end up paying more than the well off.

John Norie ● 5946d

I see that a local Paper has revealed that the charges for the park will be increased asap as the Royal Parks Agency is already short of the projected money it intends to raise.It really will end up just the same as Hyde Park and Regents Park, Exclusively for the haves.

Anthony Waller ● 5946d

Couldn't agree more Michael!

Mick Brent ● 5947d

I have to disagree Adam,It's the slippery slope and once they start chargingt he cost will just rise and more and more restrictions will come in.The Royal Parks used exactly the same argument for Hyde Park, which started out with a reasonable charge and now requires a bank bag of £ coins. And the wardens are most vociferous, hardly the recipe for rest and relaxation that parks are intended.You still pay to park to go shopping?  Did you know that it's free to park and no more than a minute from the shops if you go to Tescos or Sainsburys? or to a DIY or Electrical of furniture store in the area?It's parking charges plus the lack of parking that has damaged so many local shopping areas, not just in Brentford but all over the place.I use the bus but it is not often fully practicable unless you have time to shop every few days.It all adds up and I think Tony is right when he says it hurts those who are less solvent. They include a lot of retired folk who are often the only people supporting some places during the week and for whom, £1 can be a £1 too far but also the worry of getting a ticket or clamp in case they are 2 mins late back to the car plays on their minds and spoils their recreation. You must have parents or grandparents and it's one of those things, they get like that and more and more pressures make them fret more and it all adds up to a poorer quality of life. We will be like that one day too.

Michael Brandt ● 5948d

As I've said on Chiswick W4, I really don't get the big fuss about the introduction of parking charges (which might be up to £1 an hour but won't cost more than £3 to park there all day).Everyone pays a similar amount of money for visiting other 'leisure' places, if you went shopping all day by car you'd pay more than £3 to park etc.A lot of fuss about nothing in my view, and yes I'm young and not retired, but that doesn't cloud my view.

Adam Beamish ● 5948d