On Saturday 30th January about 1,000 people gathered in Richmond Park to protest against the plan by the Royal Parks commission to introduce parking charges in the parks’ car parks. In our borough, Richmond and Bushey Parks would be affected.
A full slate of local politicians from all parties attended. All condemned the plans as likely to hit the elderly and the less well-off particularly.
There follows some photos of the event. If, like Riversniffers, you are against these plans you will find suggested actions at the end of this post.
Signing a petition against the parking charges
Susan Kramer, MP for Richmond Park spoke agains the plan, as did Vince Cable
Deborah Thomas, Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Twickenham, signs the petition
As does Zac Goldsmith, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Richmond Park
and local resident Sir Trevor Macdonald
The petition fills up...
United in opposition to the plan
It's not just Richmond Park that will be affected
A bike with a message
That about sums it up
If you disagree with the proposed charges, you can write to Margaret Hodge, the government minister dealing with the matter. Her address is: Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MBE, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA Or if you want to email her a quick Google search will pull up the necessary contact details.
But our local MPs point out that the Royal Parks Commission is the most arrogant quango, and having discussed the matter with Ms Hodge, they are not optimistic that her mind can be changed either.
But introducing the charges will need an act of Parliament, which will not happen before a general election. Both Conservatives and LDs are opposed to the scheme, so it may be that if the government changes in May people may continue to use these priceless assets freely, as they always have done.
Fingers crossed.
