A coalition of green, health and road safety groups is calling for a massive expansion of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods across Richmond.

They are also calling for the mass adoption of Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ) to limit who can park in any street to the people who live there.

And Richmond Borough Council is also under pressure to dramatically increase the number of cycle lanes.

The proposals come from the Healthy Streets organisation, which produces a scorecard for London boroughs to assess what action has been taken to make roads safer and healthier.

LTNs are designed to put strict controls on which roads can be used by drivers, ending rat runs and through traffic.

Typically, traffic is reduced by using temporary or permanent barriers, such as bollards or planters.

Alternatively, they can be monitored and enforced using cameras backed up with penalty fees if drivers use roads they should not be on.

The schemes have triggered a number of protests across the capital and proposals to bring them in in some parts of Richmond, such as East Sheen, have drawn opposition.

The Healthy Streets organisation represents Living Streets London, the London Cycling Campaign, Sustrans, the national charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle, the London branch of the CPRE, RoadPeace, At Possible, Wheels for Wellbeing, and Future Transport London.

Its annual report argues radical measures are needed across Richmond to reduce vehicles on the road.

It concludes: "Richmond falls down on its provision of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) with only 7% of suitable roads in an LTN - compared to leading Outer London borough Waltham Forest with 47%."

It adds: "There are huge opportunities to introduce LTNs to improve visitor destinations like Richmond and Kew town centres and riverside Mortlake.

"Also, only 3% of roads have protected cycle lanes (compared to Outer London leader Waltham Forest at 12%); parking is controlled on only 38% of roads, compared to five boroughs where 100% are covered; and car ownership is higher than average, while the proportion of trips made by sustainable mode (public transport, walking and cycling) is lower than average."

The organisation said the borough 'has done well to implement a 20mph speed limit across nearly the whole borough.'

It also praises the introduction of School Streets, where traffic is restricted around schools at arrival and departure times.

But it argues that radical changes to cut cars on the road are needed, saying: "We'd now like the London Borough of Richmond (LBRUT) to apply the level of ambition it has put into delivering 20mph and push forward on protected cycle tracks and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods.

"Expanding CPZs at pace would also help reduce motor vehicle trips, pollution and make roads safer."

However, it appears that any attempts to take-up these proposals will be severely limited by a lack of funds.

Much of the money would have to come from Transport for London (TfL), which is facing a financial crisis as a result in the collapse in commuter numbers caused by the pandemic and lockdowns.

Just this week, it said all 'uncommitted' Healthy Streets projects will be paused or cancelled as it revealed proposals to reduce the programme's budget by £473 million for the six years from 2019/20.