A message from the Leader of Kingston Council

The Government Minister Margaret Hodge has written to me defending her decision to approve the introduction of car parking charges in Richmond and Busy Park.

She believes that visitors to these parks are rich enough to pay, and dismisses out of hand my concerns about the enormous impact which diverted traffic and parking will have on residential areas.

I say that some areas of Richmond and Kingston being relatively wealthy is completely beside the point.

Elderly and disabled residents who rely on their cars in order to visit the park will be excluded from taking regular exercise and leisure in our beautiful community asset by the astronomical annual costs of parking. Residents living close to the park will also be burdened by unwanted extra congestion as visitors use residential streets to avoid in-park charges.

Why did the Minister not listen to local voices? I am deeply disappointed by her actions and am running this petition in order to gauge local opposition to this unfair and uninformed decision.

Cllr Derek Osbourne
Leader of Kingston Council

Please sign the petition below!

Picture shows Cllrs Bob Steed and David Ryder-Mills with Susan Kramer MP

Sign the petition

Number of signatures

Comments

Comments will appear here shortly.