The Royal Parks Agency has decided to close Richmond Park's Robin Hood Gate and Pen Ponds car park, despite overwhelming opposition from residents.

The unilateral decision comes after a £20,000 public consultation, which has been a source of controversy ever since the launch of the traffic review.

The measures are part of a raft of changes contained in the RPA's final report on traffic management, which was published on Monday after months of delay.

Despite initial fears, no roads will be closed inside the park, but there will be a blanket speed limit reduction from 30 mph to 20 mph.

The RPA carried out a public consultation between October 2000 and the end of February 2001 and received 6,733 responses from 36,000 questionnaires - amounting to an 18 per cent response rate.

Fifty one per cent of those who filled in a questionnaire objected to the closure of Pen Ponds car park.

Fifty-nine per cent actually objected to any measures being introduced in the park to reduce through traffic.

Correspondents objected to the closure of Robin Hood Gate and respondents to the questionnaires were massively opposed to the introduction of physical restrictions for traffic in the park.

Ninety per cent of those consulted were local residents and the Royal Parks Agency made it clear their views would be weighed up against the park's position as a unique national resource.

William Weston, RPA's chief executive said: "We have endeavoured to move the process forward but we have tried to avoid action which might have been difficult for the local community.

"We tried to balance out the fact that the park is a site of special scientific interest and a special amenity for the community as a whole, with the local considerations of convenience and ability to get around the local area."

Richmond, Wandsworth and Kingston councils as well as residents have fought hard for a fair consultation, even forcing the agency to withdraw its initial consultation document because it was biased in favour of traffic reduction.

Councillor David Cunningham, co-chairman of the Richmond Park forum, said: "It's disappointing that the agency didn't go along with the views of the residents which were expressed so strongly in the consultation.

"But you have got to remember that the Royal Parks Agency is a non-elected body and is not as accountable as an elected body."

However initial reaction from the environmentalist movement and the pro-car lobby suggests the agency has struck a balance between irreconcilable positions.

Sylvia Peile, of the Campaign Against Restricted Entry, said: "In general we welcome and support the future traffic strategy as set out in the report.

"We are, of course, very pleased that only one gate is to be closed and we support a reduction in the speed limit to 20 mph. In the main, vehicular access has not been curtailed."

Richard Carter, chairman of the Friends of Richmond Park, which campaigned for traffic reduction, said: "The Friends' initial reaction was to give two cheers for the proposals.

"We see the steps as only the beginning of a process which will, in future, involve much more effective measures to reduce the amount of through traffic that is so clearly misusing the park."

December 27, 2001 15:30