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Legal
moves next in Richmond Park traffic row
The
council is taking urgent legal advice
over the decision by the Royal Parks to
close Richmond Park's Robin Hood Gate
on March 18. Roehampton residents fear
an extra 700 extra vehicles an hour could
be forced onto local roads if the unelected
body goes ahead with the closure.
Last
Thursday's regeneration and transport overview and scrutiny committee
(February 21) was told that parks bosses had ignored the results
of consultation last year which revealed overwhelming opposition
to the closure plans.
Wandsworth
could also be joined by the Mayor of London in challenging the
proposals after it was confirmed that Transport for London, which
is responsible for the A3 Roehampton Vale, had not been consulted
on the gate's closure.
TfL
have voiced concerns about the effects of traffic being diverted
onto local roads and bus journey times. They are now reconsidering
the council's request for a ban on town-bound drivers on the A3
using Roehampton's Alton Road as a rat run to avoid the queues
at the Roehampton Lane.
This
measure could be one of a number that the Mayor would insist are
in place before any decision is taken on preventing traffic from
entering the park at Robin Hood Gate.
Alton
Road, which runs past family housing, a primary school and a blind
persons' home, will come under increasing pressure once traffic
diverted from Robin Hood Gate is forced to use the A3 at Roehampton
Vale.
Cabinet
member for regeneration and transport Kathy Tracey said the Royal
Parks had acted insensitively throughout:
"The
consultation process has been flawed from start to finish. The
agency has never taken any account of the impact of the closure
on the wider area. We will be seeking an urgent meeting with the
Royal Parks to spell out our determination to protect the interests
of our residents.
"It
is unacceptable that an organisation which is responsible ultimately
to the Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell should think itself beyond
the normal conventions of public accountability. We shall be calling
on Tessa Jowell to recognise the extent of public anger at the
way their views have been dismissed."
The
committee also agreed to ask their counterparts on Kingston and
Richmond councils to reconvene the cross-borough Richmond Park
Forum which was set up during the original consultation on the
agency's plans for restricting traffic in the park.
Council
concerns for residents should Robin Hood Gate be closed.
Change
to RPA status fuels concerns over future
access to Richmond Park.
Details
of the Proposals made by the Friends of
Richmond Park
More
arguements against closure of the gates
The
RPA response to the issue
Peter
Duffy argues against the plans for restricting
traffic in Richmond Park
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