Protesters against parking charges in Richmond Park have started their own petition and campaign website as the public consultation comes near to an end.

No-one has had to pay to enter the park since 1758 when a local brewer challenged Princess Amelia in the courts for the right to walk through.

But Royal Parks is currently consulting on proposals to charge up to £3 to park.

Private contractor NCP already handles parking in some of its other places.

Derek Pope, 68, a retired businessman lives in Ladderstile Ride next to the park. He said: “They are trying to push it through.

“They have completely mishandled the consultation.

"They have put some very small signs up in the park but people don’t read them.

“They are very clever at putting up signs for functions but when it is going to affect them they don’t do it very well.”

A spokesman for Royal Parks denied they had mishandled the consultation.

She said: “We have put the information on our website and put notices up on public boards in the park.

“We have taken out adverts in local media advising people the consultation is taking place and also written to a wide range of local stakeholders, different councillors and different groups.”

Mr Pope is collecting signatures for a petition and a website has been started at webjam.com/richmond_park_proposals
Annika Erskine, who walks her border collies in the park most days, started the website.

She said: “I just think in a time of credit crunch crisis the facts we are getting penalised for dog walkers and people who live around the park for the detriment of £2,000 a year.

"It is a punitive charge.”

The official consultation will end on May 1.

To let Royal Parks know what you think visit royalparks.org.uk

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