Government defeated over park costs

11 March 2010

The House of Lords have voted against a plan to bring in parking charges at two London parks, with one peer calling for "more imaginative policy".

The Government proposal applied to Richmond and Bushy Parks, and although a move to throw out the plans was defeated, peers voted in favour of a non-fatal Tory amendment, which called for them to be withdrawn and rethought.

The Tory amendment was voted for by a 136 votes to 71 (majority 65), while a plan to completely end the scheme was defeated by 71 votes to 48 (majority 23).

Lord Howard of Rising, for Conservatives, argued that the plans were unpopular among the majority of local residents, and said they would only raise £345,000.

"We could raise a good proportion of that through voluntary contributions," he said. "If money must be found than let's have a more imaginative policy than dumping railway-style car parks in the middle of our parks."

His amendment calls on the Government to withdraw the Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces (Amendment) etc Regulations 2010 and replace them with regulations that would maintain plans such as cutting speed limits in Greenwich and Bushy Parks from 30mph to 20mph but remove the parking charge plans.

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