(Uploaded on behalf of Richmond Park Cyclists - https://twitter.com/RichmondPkCycle - who are interested in new ways to manage the parks.

1. Intelligent
Road Charging
in Richmond Park

2. • Richmond Park is a National Nature Reserve, London's largest Site of
Special Scientific Interest and a European Special Area of Conservation
• Richmond Park is one of eight parks managed by The Royal Parks, which
in March 2017 ceased to be a Government Agency and became an
independent charity
• Looking after the Royal Parks’ land and buildings costs the charity around
£40m a year. Until March 2017 The Royal Parks were funded entirely by
Government. Going forwards the charity has to raise 70% of its costs, the
remainder coming from government
• Trustees of any charity are obliged to work towards prescribed charitable
objectives, which in the case of The Royal Parks are…
1.1 Background

3. The Royal Parks’ Charitable Objectives
• to protect, conserve, maintain and care for the Royal Parks, including their natural and
designed landscapes and built environment, to a high standard consistent with their historic,
horticultural, environmental and architectural importance;
• to promote the use and enjoyment of the Royal Parks for public recreation, health
and well-being including through the provision of sporting and cultural activities and
events which effectively advance the objects;
• to maintain and develop the biodiversity of the Royal Parks, including the protection
of their wildlife and natural environment, together with promoting sustainability in the
management and use of the Royal Parks;
• to support the advancement of education by promoting public understanding of the
history, culture, heritage and natural environment of the Royal Parks and (by way of
comparison) elsewhere;
• to promote national heritage including by hosting and facilitating ceremonies of state or
of national importance within and in the vicinity of the Royal Parks.
1.2 Background

4. • At any time of the week, between 68% and 91% of all motorists use Richmond Park
as a shortcut. Approximately 8 million journeys are made by motorists in Richmond
Park annually (2015 traffic survey)
• Traffic comes into the Park from TFL and London Borough maintained roads, yet
the Park receives no income from rates, nor council or road tax for the maintenance
of its own roads.
• Surrounding roads are typically residential, not designed for high volumes of traffic
which currently use the Park
• Despite a 20mph speed limit, ambient speed is significantly higher
• Despite a ban on commercial vehicles, many use the Park as a shortcut
• Drivers are using the Park as a long-term car park (particularly at Kingston Gate) to
access Norbiton Station, Kingston Hospital and other local amenities
2.1 The Problem

5. • The Park’s roads, which were not built for heavy traffic, are deteriorating
• The Royal Parks’ charitable objects do not mention motor vehicles, yet
resources are needed to maintain the roads which are being used largely by
non-Park users
• As the population of London grows over the coming years, increasing
numbers of visitors are expected at the Park. This is likely to lead to
increasing wear and tear of the roads and car parks
2.2 The Problem

6. 3. Intelligent Road Charging
• Cameras with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) capability
would be mounted at each of the five gates and linked to a single server
• Motorists who enter and exit the Park within a pre-determined period (e.g.
20 minutes) would be charged to do so
• Motorists who enter and exit the Park beyond a pre-determined period (e.g.
8 hours) would be charged to do so
• Motorists who enter and exit the Park between these two pre-determined
periods would not be charged
• Average speed within the Park could be measured
• Commercial vehicles without a licence to enter the Park could be identified
• Concessions could be made available to local residents and other frequent
users of the Park

7. 4. Benefits
• The Royal Parks would secure a new revenue stream – monies generated
could facilitate investment in necessary infrastructure in Richmond Park –
for example, roads, car parks and pathways
• Existing resources of Richmond Park could be refocused on projects which
are more clearly aligned with The Royal Parks’ charitable objects
• Improved safety for pedestrians and deer by reducing the speed of
motorists
• Reduced pollution by restricting access to the Park by more heavily
polluting vehicles
• More effective enforcement of restrictions on commercial vehicles
• Generally, a more tranquil, welcoming and safer environment could be
established.

8. 5. Pricing
• The Trustees would need to decide whether they want to reduce traffic in Richmond
Park or raise revenue or a combination of the two. A proper study would be needed
to establish the elasticity of demand and pricing set accordingly.
• The Park gates are currently shut to 100% of motorists from dusk until dawn. This
includes all or some of the morning and evening peaks when we are on GMT. The
impact of 100% diversion (which will not happen or even be approached in practice)
can already be observed
• Nobody should be excluded from the Park
• Many shortcut motorists using Apps would be deterred by pricing at any level (just
10p would be deemed to be a toll)

9. 6. The Way Ahead
• This Intelligent Road Charging proposal already has outline support from local
representatives of the Conservative, Liberal and Green parties
• We are canvassing local stakeholder groups (local resident groups, TFL, Friends of
Richmond Park etc) and so far we have been getting a broadly positive response
• Any decision will be made by The Royal Parks. We have discussed these ideas with
management of Richmond Park and of The Royal Parks.
• Most encouragingly we understand that Intelligent Road Charging will be included
in the forthcoming consultation on the Movement Strategy for all eight parks