New 'traffic calming' measures through Richmond Park designed to make its roads safer are putting cyclists at risk, it is claimed.

The Richmond Park Cyclists organisation is concerned cyclists are effectively being stopped from completing continuous laps of the park through changes made under the heading of a 'Movement Strategy'.

A series of new gates and a contraflow - designed to make it easier for people on foot to cross the roads - are forcing cars and cyclists to slow and stop at three points.

Separately, the cyclists are furious about the imposition of a 10mph speed limit on the Broomfield Hill stretch of the road, where cars have been banned.

The organisation has written an open letter to the Richmond Park manager, Paul Richards, stating: "The overwhelming response from cyclists is that the new road installations and the 10mph limit on Broomfield Hill are a hazardous intrusion which detracts from their enjoyment of riding, while delivering no additional safety measures for any other type of park user."

The letter was compiled following a recent meeting with Mr Richards and Sgt Pete Sturgess from the Royal Park police.

It states: "While we remain supportive of the overall objective of the Movement Strategy to reduce motor traffic, the physical implementation has undermined cyclist safety and taken away cycling enjoyment without proportionately benefitting any other group of visitor, notably pedestrians."

The group argues that it is important that cyclists have the ability to complete uninterrupted laps of the park, writing: "The opportunity to cycle more or less continuously (having regard to pedestrian priority and safe navigation through motor traffic), is a unique and highly valued feature to riding in Richmond Park.

"Unnecessarily and for no advantage to other visitor groups, but increasing danger to cyclists, riders are likely to have to come to a halt at least three times on the outer roadway.

"First at the foot of Broomfield Hill to negotiate the gateway before the busy roundabout area where visibility is now much reduced.

"Second, opposite Roehampton car park to give way to oncoming vehicles.

"Third by Beverley Brook bridge to avoid oncoming vehicles, either failing to give way, or because you have not provided enough space for them to pass on their journey towards Roehampton."

The group claims that the impact of these changes was not made clear during a consultation. And it argues support 'would have been substantially reduced' if they had been.

The organisation has called on the Park authorities, who are carrying out a safety review of the new measures, to change their lay-out and design.