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Rose, normally I'd agree that people using the park is a good thing.  But I'm coming to the conclusion that there are too many people using it now for it to be sustainable as a SSSI. I use the park for running, cycling,  exploring the woods with the kids and as a healthy 'green lung' for South West London.  I also have driven there with my blue badge holding parents, so see quite a few different angles to park use.  I'm concerned that the current level of use isn't doing it any good. It becomes stressful instead of calm.  The wildlife is being disturbed.  I wouldn't be surprised to see additional controls to stop the park being wrecked. It is so busy that I don't use it much now and go searching for quieter places (ironically I prefer cycling on main roads now because it's less stressful!).Bushy park seems quieter, and is better for children to cycle and walking aids due to tarmacced paths. Parking and traffic is a challenge there too though. I don't know all the answers , but a fairly obvious step is to prevent through traffic, then stop cars at the gates when the car parks are full.  Cycling will probably be limited to groups of 6 like Windsor great park. Perhaps no sporting use when coronavirus lifts (so no rugby, running events like parkrun, 10k, marathons etc). I hope horse riding is protected for stag stables.  Maybe no weddings in Pembroke lodge?  Maybe the top level of limiting numbers of people entering the park might happen. If it does the knock on effect for Wimbledon could be huge.

Alan Sherman ● 1944d