The  Royal  Parks’  Movement  Strategy  –

FRP  comments  on  Strategic  Outcomes  consultation

  

TRP has published the second stage of its Movement Strategy, dealing with “Strategic Outcomes’. The document can be found here.

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If you would like to provide feedback on any of these outcomes please email your submission before 25 March 2020 to: movement.strategy@royalparks.org.uk .

 

The first stage dealt with the Vision – a set of principles. The second stage converts the principles into a set of Strategic Outcomes – broad statements of what they will do (e.g. improve pedestrian crossings). The third stage will convert the Outcomes into five-year Action Plans. The Outcomes are not by Park, the Action Plans will be.

There are some good things in the Outcomes, for example:

  • The intention that there will be no net loss of green space.
  • Visitor dispersal (encouraging visitors away from busy areas) and better signage
  • A clear priority on walkers and planned improvements in pedestrian crossings
  • Reducing road speeds, maybe through new road infrastructure
  • Promoting considerate cycling, including a ‘behaviour change’ campaign
  • Reducing traffic through car-free days
  • Using cameras to catch commercial vehicles

FRP has some concerns about the Outcomes and how they are translated into a Richmond Park Action Plan:

  • Pedestrians also need better protection on shared use roads/paths – e.g. the paved road from Sheen Cross to Pen Ponds car park to Ham Cross and the Tamsin Trail.
  • Re car-free times, summer evenings (say from 7.30pm) may be a good start. Through traffic is light (so fewer people will be inconvenienced) and the weather is at its best.
  • Car-free times must include control on the speed and behaviour of cyclists.  Without cars many cyclists will go fast, making it more difficult for walkers and deer to cross roads.
  • Cameras should also be used for enforcing average speeds
  • There is nothing about car parking. The Friends are in favour of parking charges at peak times. And commuter parking at Kingston/Richmond Gate car parks is a problem.
  • Some Outcomes don’t fit with the natural character of Richmond Park – visitor dispersal if it means disturbing quiet areas; large numbers of signs, way-finding or interpretation boards; and benches scattered around the Park.

01 March 2020