Forum Topic

Charging to Park in Gunnersbury Park

The announcement is not a surprise I suppose but disappointing nonetheless. I understand the need to raise revenues but this move could be misjudged. Gunnersbury Park bordered by the north circular and the M4 doesn't have the number of walk in local users that other London parks do so lots of people drive. Generally I will go at the same time as a visit to the Stirling Road dump and probably a couple of quid for parking won't stop me but I suspect there are a lot of regular park users for whom it might prove a major discouragement. Not sure what the deal is with the share of the F&B revenue but if that falls the increase of revenue from parking might not be as great as projected.Also I wasn't aware that commuter parking was a particular issue here. Admittedly I rarely go during the week but the car park is only ever close to be full on a particularly sunny day at the weekend in my experience.Not sure what they are planning to do about access to the car park but the current narrow entrance and dangerous exit onto Popes Lane is going to cause issues unless something is done, particularly when the sports hub is fully up and running.Also the move probably means that weekend parking restrictions will have to be introduced in adjacent streets. Not great news for Actonians sports club.

Andy Jones ● 2315d10 Comments

It's used by some, if not a lot. As an underground car park. Hence !! I welcome the charges.

Vasken Tchengrakian ● 2308d

During the week the car park is used by a lot of commuters. I'd like them to do a car park season ticket for those park users who go regularly. It can't be difficult to set up.

Tania Bapuji ● 2308d

Im well aware Mark, I take my small child there most weekends with no problem. Disabled will not have to pay and  as for the rest:walk/cycle/runIts not a basic right to choke up everywhere with cars and pollution because you're too lazy

Tony Mansell ● 2308d

Free to use the toilets at Richmond Station!The charge was removed some time ago, as it is a Network Rail owned station, and they removed toilet charging from their stations.

Amanda Knights ● 2309d

Next, they will charge you to use the toilet. I think it costs 50p in Richmond station :|

Naweed Shams ● 2310d

You would think that they might be able to organise carshare for Parkrun either informally or through a carshare club.Here's one that they are running using liftshare.com in Devon just to give you an idea.  Have a look:https://liftshare.com/uk/community/devon

Philippa Bond ● 2313d

Tony, perhaps you should visit the park one weekend to see the kind of people who tend to use it. Most are either people with smaller children or dog walkers for whom walking, cycling and running to the park would be impractical.Ironically the exception is when parkrun is on - that's the only time cars containing solely able bodied adults predominate.

Mark Evans ● 2314d

This is so disappointing, but another sign of the times.  I would take my children to Gunnersbury many years ago when they were young, either in the holidays or after school.  We would spend hours there, and in those days the cafe was cheap and affordable.  When the park was given to the community by the Rothschild family, they presumably didn't envisage any type of charge and this seems a very cynical ploy which may backfire. Shame.

Anne Brown ● 2314d

walk/cycle/run

Tony Mansell ● 2314d

I think they are preparing for the opening of the new sports hub, which will increase the number of visitors, and that deterrence is the main issue rather than simple revenue raising. As someone who lives near the park, I'm concerned that this will result in a big increase in street parking in the surrounding roads. As you say, the current restrictions of one hour in the morning and one in the afternoon, Mon-Fri, will ideally need to be extended to weekends.

Susan Kelly ● 2315d