Teddington's local MP Munira Wilson has called upon the Royal Parks to revise their plan to introduce parking fees to Bushy and Richmond parks.

Wilson said in a statement today that the controversial proposal was unfair on vulnerable users of the park and those who have to go there regularly, for example park employees.

She urged the Royal Parks to consider introducing a monthly or annual parking pass and said that the possibility of clogged nearby streets from displaced parking should be "carefully assessed."

You can read her statement in full below.

This follows the announcement by the Royal Parks on Monday of their plan to introduce parking fees to Bushy and Richmond parks despite public opposition in a consultation on the proposal.

If the plan in its current form is approved by Parliament, visitors to both parks would have to pay £1.40 per hour on weekdays (between 9am and 4pm) and £2.00 on weekends to use the car parks.

For more on the plans see our earlier report HERE

Munira's statement in full

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"We all want to reduce the number of cars in our beautiful Royal Parks and encourage greener modes of transport.

"However, the proposed parking charges will disproportionally hit the vulnerable and disadvantaged park users, especially those with mobility problems, who need to drive if they are to access the park.

"The proposed fees are also unfair on regular park users such as employees, volunteers and users of park sporting facilities.

"Before these proposals are put to Parliament, I call upon Royal Parks to amend their proposals, with wider exemptions and concessions, as well as an option of monthly or annual parking pass.

"The wider impact of car park charges on the residential streets close to the park must also be assessed carefully and changes may be required to ensure local roads are not clogged up with displaced parking."