The previous government proposed to introduce charges in Richmond Park, the largest enclosed park in Europe and an oasis of calm in the hustle and bustle of London.
Park users who were used to a free parking in several lots within the park opposed the plans (vehemently). Residents who lived near pedestrian and roadway gates in the park also opposed them as they feared that park visitors would use residential roads to park especially on Sundays when there’s traditionally no enforcement of parking. The surrounding councils (Wandsworth, Richmond and Kingston) opposed the charges on their behalf. The other side of the argument was that imposing charges could be used to maintain the car parks and that it would encourage use of public transport and cycling to access the park. There was a public consultation on the charges and despite overwhelming opposition from consultees the charges were to go ahead.
So naturally opposition sprang up on Facebook. Wandsworth Council started a Facebook group. And a far more popular group was also started that was associated with Zac Goldsmith – then a Conservative PPC. (As far as I can tell, the only dispute between ZG and the incumbent he beat – Susan Kramer – was an arcane procedural bun fight over who was using the best tactics to defeat the charges.)
So were the Facebook campaigns a success? Who can say? The government changed and the charges were scrapped. But the Facebook groups provided a useful point of information and opposition to the charges. And perhaps the Facebook groups were less about providing leadership than demonstrating that politicians and institutions understood the concerns of those living in Southwest London.
I was reminded of the campaign this morning when reading through my council’s magazine which included a feature on the issue. Apparently, not only are the parking charges to be scrapped, but so are any plans to re-surface the car parks. Instead they will be kept as they are ‘preserving their rural character’. Ha!
(Disclosure – I am a Wandsworth resident and park user. I opposed the charges, responded to the formal consultation and joined both Facebook groups. I don’t mind if the car parks maintain their ‘rurality’.)
Ingrid Koehler