A consultation on introducing parking charges in all the public car parks in both Richmond and Bushy Park has begun.

There are currently no parking fees in these parks.

An introduction would bring parking fees in line with those in place across the rest of the Royal Parks as well as with similar charges from councils.

The scheme would include a maximum stay of six hours, to ensure a turnover of spaces.

Blue Badge parking and parking for motorcyclists will continue to be free, but subject to the maximum-stay limit.

How much it would cost to park

The fees for both parks would be £1.40 per hour Monday to Saturday.

This would rise to £2.00 per hour on Sunday, to a maximum of six hours on any day.

The charges would apply between 9am to 6pm, when these hours fall within park opening times.

Rationale for the changes

The Royal Parks charity said: "The charges are designed to enable us to better manage the high demand for parking in the parks.

"It will also encourage the use of more sustainable ways to travel to the parks and contribute to the maintenance costs of these facilities.

"This public consultation on the introduction of parking charges is a separate project to the recent launch of trials across five parks to reduce cut-through motor traffic on park roads, which will take place later in the Autumn."

How to have your say

The consultation opens today (Monday, September 7) and closes on November 1.

You can make a comment via an online survey here.

Alternatively, email your views to [email protected] or send a letter to the address:

The Old Police House