Immediate reassurance has been sought by Richmond Council from the Royal Parks charity over its plan to cut through traffic in Bushy Park.

The council today said it was important that residents are not adversely impacted by any changes.

"If either of these trials result in poor air quality, a decline in road safety or additional congestion in nearby communities where our residents live and work, then they may need amendment or could even prove unsustainable," the chair of the council's Transport and Air Quality Committee, Cllr Alexander Ehmann, said.

On Friday the Royal Parks announced a new strategy to "eliminate" all through traffic in Bushy Park by closing Chestnut Avenue.

The plan is a part of the charity's Movement Strategy. A similar trial will be run in Richmond Park.

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, both Bushy and Richmond Parks have been temporarily fully closed or partially closed to motor vehicles since the end of March.

Responding to the announcement, Richmond Council's chair of the Transport and Air Quality Committee, Cllr Alexander Ehmann, said: "As lockdown continues to ease, car usage is predicted to increase beyond pre-Covid levels.

"Royal Parks strive to improve visitor experiences in their parks and actively manage these important Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

"Therefore, as responsibility for managing traffic within Richmond and Bushy Park lies with Royal Parks, they have decided to use those powers to trial measures to reduce levels of motorised through-traffic using these Parks.

"Richmond Council is seeking immediate reassurances regarding the monitoring of traffic volumes and air quality impacts associated with these changes.

"When these trials launch, Richmond Council will be studying their effects closely to ensure that residents are not adversely impacted by any changes.

"If either of these trials result in poor air quality, a decline in road safety or additional congestion in nearby communities where our residents live and work, then they may need amendment or could even prove unsustainable.

"We encourage residents to share their views with the Royal Parks during the trial phase.