The wooden box planters at either end of the vehicle restricted length of Chestnut Avenue at Bushy Park have been replaced with steel gates.

Work to replace the box planters began on Monday, 2 March.

In a similar way to the boxes, the new gates have a gap between them to allow authorised vehicles.

A spokesperson for the Friends of Bushy and Home Parks said: "There are to be new gates installed on Chestnut Avenue replacing the box planters. The gates provide a safer view beyond them of anything oncoming, unlike the planters which obscured the view.

"It was always the plan to have gates, but they had to wait in a queue of other works, so the planters were a temporary measure. The announcement on Facebook that the gates were to be installed stirred up complaints again about closure of the avenue to through traffic.

"The comments are misinformed by assumptions that the closure was because of the pandemic; it wasn't, the closure is a part of a wider strategy reducing or removing traffic in all Royal Parks.

"The complainants also ignore the point that the park is meant to be a place to visit and enjoy for calm and well-being, not to provide a rat-run for passing traffic.

"Now before we receive further complaints about the closure affecting accessibility for visitors with mobility impairment, our new buggy service will provide a solution for them and add to their enjoyment of the park. Just not when very cold and wet!"

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