Richmond Council are seeking reassurances about the introduction of parking charges at Bushy and Richmond Park.

As part of the Council's formal response to the Royal Parks, it will be requesting financial assistance towards possible consultations on the introduction/amendment of Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ) to ensure that nearby residential roads can be protected from any displaced parking.

Richmond Council will also be pressing Royal Parks to consider ways they can support those who while not 'Blue Badge' holders, nonetheless face mobility impairments. Alongside these representations, Richmond Council will be encouraging the Royal Parks to recognise the Richmond Card in their car parks, which could provide tariff reductions or 30 minutes of free parking for Richmond residents.

Royal Parks launched their consultation on 7 September and are proposing to introduce parking charges in all the public car parks in Bushy and Richmond parks.

Their proposals aim to discourage the use of the car parks by commuters, raise revenue towards the maintenance and upkeep of the parks and align their parking strategy with their other sites across the capital.

Councillor Alexander Ehmann, Chair of the Transport and Air Quality Committee at Richmond Council, said:

"Ultimately parking arrangements within Richmond and Bushy parks is matter for the Royal Parks.

"However, they need to consider the very real risk of displacement of parked cars into nearby residential areas. Parking controls can minimise that impact, but these changes are not without costs to the council and residents.'

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"If these proposals go ahead, Richmond Council will be asking Royal Parks for a suitable financial contribution toward parking consultations in the impacted areas & any CPZ changes around the parks via a 'Rapid Reaction CPZ Fund'."

"We also hope that some concessions can be made for those with mobility impairments and that it may yet prove possible to use the Richmond Card to offer some parking concessions to local residents."

"I encourage all residents to have their say in this important consultation."