Council plans to gentrify a Richmond public car park on a site near the riverside have been criticised by cycling campaigners.

The Friars Lane Car Park has come under fire from local residents for being an eyesore, while there are concerns about security, noise, pollution, nuisance and litter.

A Council document sets out a need for improvements, saying: "The general condition of the car park is felt to be causing inconvenience to residents, particularly at weekends, and as a result of complaints received the Council is proposing to make significant changes to the car park."

The proposed improvements include putting in trees and planting, installing electric car charging points, creating bike and motorbike parking, and resurfacing the area.

The plans also include new street lighting and bills, while the surrounding walls and fencing will be cleaned and improved.

However, cycling groups have questioned the need for the car park at all, arguing it would be better to turn it into a pocket park or add trees rather than make it more attractive for drivers.

The Richmond Cycling Campaign has criticised the scheme on social media, saying: "Near the riverside in Richmond, the council is planning to take this unattractive space of grey concrete and ... make it more attractive for the people who park there.

"They don't supply any data on usage, and don't have very well developed reasons for tarting it up, and it really could be more exciting. A playground, a pocket park, even exclusively electric charging would be better.

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"It's an effective incitement to drive down through the Green and the narrow Friars Lane, just to get to the river."

Green councillor for Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside, Andrée Frieze, responded, suggesting an alternative to cars, saying: "How about bicycle parking, including cargo bikes, ebikes and dockless bikes/escooters?"

The Council is inviting comments on its proposals with a closing date of December 17. Details can be found here.