Forum Topic

Potential Closure of Richmond Park

It is naive to imagine that any  limitation of the use of cars in Richmond Park is anything other than a vacuous gesture, designed to disrupt the lives of all residents in the area.We have a symbiotic relationship with cars and wishing them away is futile; witness the traffic repercussions of Hammersmith Bridge and the further accident on East Sheen.  Without the outlet provided by the park, the knock-on problem(s) would be disastrous.

David McConnon ● 2700d32 Comments

I agree.  But beyond the traffic chaos that would ensue (we still suffer the consequences of the closure of Kingston Gate here), the amount of people who would be able to use the Park because they cannot get there, be they disabled, with reduced mobility, elderly or infirm.  I use the Park once a week to drive through, I admit, but more often to reach Pembroke Lodge or Isabella Plantation.  With no car access, good bye Richmond Park.And, by the way, the deer are totally unperturbed by cars - the idea that their stress levels were increased by vehicles is nonsense.  The amount of times they are eating by the side of the road very happily indeed and do not lift their heads when a car inches forward.....

Ivonne Holliday ● 2700d

Maybe as a compromise just put a toll on through traffic if that can be done, it will reduce traffic and there should be some money from the tolls that can contribute towards the upkeep of the park?I certainly agree  with Ivonne that it absolutely needs to be open to car access.  I too drive in to park and go for a coffee and walk

Mike Warman ● 2700d

I think that the suggestion is to ban through traffic, so I don't understand your point about disabled access.

Bill Christie ● 2700d

Am I incorrect in my understanding that the premise is that the Park should be enjoyed by all?Or is the idea to dump a disabled person by say, Roehampton Gate or Sheen Gate and expect them to make their way to Pembroke Lodge and/or Isabella Plantation?

Ivonne Holliday ● 2700d

"It is naive to imagine that any  limitation of the use of cars in Richmond Park is anything other than a vacuous gesture, designed to disrupt the lives of all residents in the area."Simply untrue: the Royal Parks are trying to reduce the damage caused by excessive traffic in the parks, and to suggest the aim is "designed to disrupt the lives of all residents in the area" is, frankly, fatuous."We have a symbiotic relationship with cars and wishing them away is futile." But we have to reduce reliance on the car because of the twin damage they do to the atmosphere and to the climate emergency. Do you not see this?

Richard Carter ● 2700d

I volunteered for years in St James' Park, and volunteer in Richmond Park for the Royal Parks' "Mission Invertebrate" studies, and can assure you that insect life is flourishing.  So are the deer, who have to be regularly culled to control their numbers.The real issue is human over-population, where metropolitan overcrowding results in more people seeking refuge in a diminishing number of green spaces, as suggested in a statement by the Royal Parks' Transport Officer  to the Evening Standard.If we want children to be future stewards of the environment, they need easy access to Parks now.

Chantal Blake-Milton ● 2699d

It hasn't been suggested that Richmond Park be closed to traffic, just through traffic.Is it just me or have I missed something?

Simon Knight ● 2699d

I'm not sure how traffic as opposed to "through traffic" would be monitored, particularly whilst Hammersmith Bridge is closed.I think there are more important issues to be dealt with in Putney - let those residents nearest the Park and the eminently sensible Zac Goldsmith decide.  I see no mention on his website about this proposal, which appears to be part of his old mayoral rival's plans to increase cycling.  Khan, who is chair of TfL needs to earn his salary, or resign.

Chantal Blake-Milton ● 2699d

I can't see how Hammersmith Bridge being closed is relevant to the park. As for monitoring...dunno!More sensible would be open the roads linking Upper and Lower Richmond Roads.

Simon Knight ● 2699d

The issue identified by the Royal Parks is through traffic. Access to the car parks by each entrance would not change and I can easily imagine the disabled parking by the Isabella plantation staying open. Both local councils and individual users will get their chance to comment.  We do need to reduce our reliance on cars and minimise their impact on our fragile environment.

Jonathan Callaway ● 2699d

I have just come back from walking in Richmond Park which I do every week wth a group of friends. We all appreciate that we re lucky to be able to walk on the paths well away from the roads but Simon is right. No one is suggesting closing the park to any other but through traffic. There were lots of children in the park who clearly have 'easy access'. What is your solution re 'human overpopulation' in relation to Richmond Park?

Jane Carter ● 2699d

I agree.

Ruth Pates ● 2699d

Can someone please explain exactly what the "issue" is about through traffic, apart from the fact that some people just don't like it.The deer don't seem to mind and as someone just wrote, insect life seems to be thriving. Is there actually a problem?

Bunny Payne ● 2699d

Think that car traffic in general  is highly damaging to the environment and Richmond Park is no exception. We are all so accustomed to cars dominating our roads that we think that is normal and can’t imagine anything different.  The park and our local streets would be so much more pleasant and healthier if car traffic reduced. Other places have already done it.

Ruth Pates ● 2699d

Mike Warman writes,“I certainly agree with Ivonne that it absolutely needs to be open to car access.  I too drive in to park and go for a coffee and walk”We lived in Putney (near the Half Moon pub in Lower Richmond Road) and often walked (we didn’t have a car) to both Richmond Park, and the Windmill on Wimbledon Common, frequently taking a picnic for our young daughter, and then walked back home. Unless you are disabled, why drive – take a healthy walk?

James Slade ● 2698d

Mike Warman writes,“I certainly agree with Ivonne that it absolutely needs to be open to car access.  I too drive in to park and go for a coffee and walk”We lived in Putney (near the Half Moon pub in Lower Richmond Road) and often walked (we didn’t have a car) to both Richmond Park, and the Windmill on Wimbledon Common, frequently taking a picnic for our young daughter, and then walked back home. Unless you are disabled, why drive – take a healthy walk?

James Slade ● 2698d

Blimey I'd take a week to recover :)

Simon Knight ● 2698d

I'd keel over just walking from Putney High Street end of Upper Richmond Road. You don't have to be disabled not to be able to manage the walk there and then walk in the Park itself.

Lucille Grant ● 2698d

James, what route did you take on foot to Richmond Park?  I will give it a try when I get time.I have only been to Richmond Park twice in nearly 40 years in Putney.  And I think we only drove through in the car.  Maybe it’s time for a third visit.

Martine Guy ● 2698d

Martine, below are details of our route to Richmond Park;1. The Lower Richmond Road.2. Queens Ride.3. The Upper Richmond Road.4. Priory Lane.5. Richmond Park Gate.When our daughter was young she travelled in a pushchair. When she was about seven years old we resumed our strolls and so she walked – sometimes complaining about the distance! We usually were able to deal with her moans and groans by giving her small financial rewards for seeing and identifying various trees, birds and animals, which always worked.As walkers a long time ago, we found that often cyclists were, even then, a bigger danger than cars.The park is a beautiful gift to Putney, which we still miss very much now living in Australia, so do please try and make a third visit.

James Slade ● 2698d

Thanks, James, I thought that might be the route.  Getting to Priory Lane/URR on foot takes me an easy 25 minutes walk. How long will it take me to walk from URR to the Richmond Park gate?

Martine Guy ● 2698d

Or you can take a bus part way and walk the rest. Citymapper app great for routes. Lots of bus choices and anyone of you with a 60+ Oyster card can do this for free!

Ruth Pates ● 2698d

Or, as a pleasanter alternative to Queens Ride and the URR, neither of which is particularly nice for walking, you can carry on along the LRR into Mill Hill Road then L into Station Road and R into Vine Road to the end where it joins Priory Lane:

Richard Carter ● 2698d

Sorry, that map is all but illegible!

Richard Carter ● 2698d

I lived off the Upper Richmond Rd. Barnes. Off White Hart Lane. You could get a bus from Putney to Priory Lane, walk up Priory Lane straight into the park. You could walk to the right and come out Sheen Gate, then walk down Sheen Lane. You can then get a bus home from Sheen High Street a long walk.

Barbara Stevens ● 2698d

Martine, "I have only been to Richmond Park twice in nearly 40 years in Putney." I cannot believe that! It is one of our area's greatest assets (and we are lucky enough to have a good few).

Steve Poole ● 2697d

Hi Steve, sorry but it’s true!  I always tend to go into central London and never think of going to Richmond Park or Richmond.Yesterday, we had to go somewhere in the car fairly near to the park so we drove along Priory Lane, so I could see how long it would take to walk.  I have to say it is quite a long way and I can totally understand why people want to drive there.  I could manage to walk there from central Putney but then, after walking in the park, I would have to walk home again.  I think I would have to have a lie down when I got home.

Martine Guy ● 2697d

The 170 and 430 stop near the bottom of Danebury Avenue which is a short-ish (650m) walk to Roehampton Gate.It's also a shorter (350m) walk from there to the RP1 bus stop, the other side of the barriers, that serves Richmond Park itself (albeit seasonal):https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/richmond-park/visitor-information/free-minibus-service-in-richmond-parkThere are also bus stops a short distance from Robin Hood gate (the 85 for example), Kingston Gate (85 again but a bit further) and other buses that go up Richmond Hill (371 but none direct from Putney).

Alex Greenbank ● 2697d

This really highlights the need for better public transport to the park.

Jane Carter ● 2697d

We need to reduce our reliance on the car.  For some it is obviously easier than for others although the speed we try to live doesn't help.With a smartphone you can (usually) find a map and when and where the next bus is together with the nearest bus stop (and arrange to meet and be picked up).  I admit I do still prefer a paper map though to see the stops.  Commuter drivers are using this technology to find the quickest routes with no thought to consequences.  This is what we need to reduce and encouraging change can be awkward but very worthwhile.  We need to keep active and walk more to stay healthy and not allow the park to deteriorate into just another ratrun.

Philippa Bond ● 2696d

Philippa if the park is closed to commuter ran running at peak times of the day Mon - Fri then people like myself who cannot walk long distances and families with very young children (ditto) will still be able to reach the Park easily without being reliant on a number of buses to get there at the weekends and during holiday periods.Needing to reduce reliance on cars is all very well but 100 years ago people were probably saying the same about horse and carts lolI quite agree that able bodied  people who can walk or cycle should be able to leave their cars at home. BTW I am always surprised at the number of school children who take the bus from East putney Station to Putney Station instead of walking the few yards instead.

Lucille Grant ● 2696d

How expensive would it be to run car access to Richmond Park in the same way as the Dartford Crossing? Number recognition cameras at each gate. This could be paid for over time by collecting, say, £2 from each car entering and leaving through the same gate on the same day. And £8 from any car entering by one gate and leaving through another (i.e. using the Park as a short-cut). Ideally we could all pre-register for convenience, as with the Dart-Charge, or pay by midnight to avoid a penalty. This would discourage transit traffic.

Bill Christie ● 2684d