THE fight to stop parking charges at Richmond and Bushy parks is rolling on, after Richmond Council wrote to Royal Parks to demand they withdraw planning applications to install parking meters.
Despite the new government confirming its intention to scrap the plans, Royal Parks, the organisation in charge of the parks, has submitted planning applications that would allow them to proceed with the controversial scheme.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who is set to add responsibility for the parks to his portfolio has also confirmed that he would not allow the charges to go ahead during his mayoralty.
The council's involvement will please campaigners, who are concerned the plans may still see the light of day, after the previous secretary of state Margaret Hodge gave them the go-ahead. It is still unclear whether the government will be able to back-track and there are fears there will be legal intervention from either side.
Council leader Nicholas True said: "I have asked officer to contact the Royal Parks and ask them to withdraw these applications. Given the expressed intention of the parties in the new government to veto the planned charges, it is potentially a significant waste of officer time and political energy to now pursue these applications. If they do not withdraw the applications some might call it boneheaded bureaucracy and a blatant inability or unwillingness to listen to the verdict of local people."
Thousands of people signed petitions against the charges of up to £1 an hour, and descended on Richmond Park for a protest rally.
Mr True added:"Our beautiful parks need to be kept natural and free for all to enjoy and must not be urbanised. It Royal Parks do not listen to such obvious common sense, then we will make formal objections as a council. I have opposed the idea of charges ever since they were first mooted – and we do not want or need this dismal paraphernalia that go with them."
