Hello Richard,
Well, thank you for your comment which, may I add, is very revealing in itself! Were you the chairman of the Friends of Richmond Park at the time of the closure of Kingston Gate?
On the issue of closing Richmond Park to cars, has any thought been given to the Royal Ballet School, its staff and students, to the delivery of goods, food, etc to the school, to Pembroke Lodge, to the cafeteria near Roehampton Gate? I seem to remember that there is an ice cream van parked in the summer in the car park near Isabella Plantation — one would assume that this would not be allowed? You also have the playing fields (Rosslyn Park uses them in the winter for example). If people have to park their cars in the car parks, has there been any consideration to enlarging the car parks, hence by definition destroying great parts (or chunks) of the today very pleasant and green land? Also, if people park their cars in the car parks and walk, the erosion of the land near the car parks be substantial because, even if there are paths, so many people could be on them that some will overtake them on the grass hence damaging the areas that are purportedly being defended so vehemently. Furthermore, while you have mentioned a possible exemption for blue badge holders, has any consideration been given to parents of small babies and children, particularly those who have more than one child between the ages of 3 and a few months?
Also, I think it is the ranger's office between Richmond and Roehampton Gates (on the left coming from Richmond) where there are middle whites grazing happily, if cars are banned, how do you get to the office? Will the cattle be taken away from there (as by definition they arrive and leave on "lorries"). There is an annual event held there. How would people be able to attend? Or is the field with the middle whites going to become a car park?
If Richmond Park is closed to cars, I assume that the Prudential Bike Ride in August will not be allowed to take place because of the sheer number of riders as well as the speed they do will certainly stress, if not shock, the deer- the same ones that are totally unperturbed by cars doing a stately speed of 20m/h.
It was my understanding that one of the main purposes of the Royal Parks charity was to run programmes of activities and events to encourage outdoor recreation and public access to those areas. While it can be argued that you are not stopping public access to those areas, you would certainly be curtailing it in no small measure?
It is also my view that a area-wide traffic management study must be carried out before Friends of Richmond Park decide unilaterally to close the park to cars. It should also consider closing the park to bike riders at the same time.
By the way, has any thought being given or study being undertaken to consider the damage to the park due to pollution as a result of the extension of Heathrow airport?
If you think I am being difficult, perhaps, but I do not believe the comments made above to be irrational, selfish, obnoxious nor obtuse.
Thank you.
Ivonne Holliday ● 2707d