KINGSTON and Richmond councils have joined forces with Wandsworth to fight proposals to charge visitors to park their cars at Richmond and Bushy parks.

The alliance was formed following a meeting with officials from Royal Parks - the organisation which looks after the parks - last week.

The controversial charging scheme was announced in January. A consultation ended in May and a decision is expected to be made by autumn. It would see drivers charged up to £3 per visit.

Council leaders said they were concerned it would put people off visiting the parks and clog up nearby streets and residential areas.

Kingston Council's leader Derek Osbourne said: "No one has stopped to consider the implications for traffic in the roads bordering the park. It's unthinkable that this government body could go ahead without having carried out even the most basic studies, yet this has not happened in any of the areas affected."

Richmond's Serge Lourie added: "It's inevitable that drivers seeking to avoid the charges will look for spaces outside the park. While we appreciate the financial pressures on the Royal Parks, this plan to introduce parking charges will discriminate against many park users while causing parking chaos in surrounding roads at the same time. The government and Royal Parks need to think again."

Wandsworth's Edward Lister said the charges could force some people out of the parks. "It's unfair to make people pay for brining their car to the park when the public transport options are so limited. The result will be to price out many young families and older people for whom the car is the only realistic option. The minister should reject this plan now."

Unsatisfied with the outcome of their meeting, the leaders decided to work together to fight the move as although the parks are in Richmond borough, they are bordered by the other two.

Richmond Park MP Susan Kramer and Putney's Justine Greening will also join the campaign – the two have already raised the issue in parliament.