Vince Cable

It is reported (in a letter from the Minister, Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MP, to the Friends of Bushy and Home Parks) that parking charges will be introduced imminently, without further discussion or further reference to Parliament or other representative bodies and local groups.

Vincent Cable MP has written to the Minister and the head of the Royal Parks agency to protest (letters attached) and to seek urgent meetings.

"It has been clear for some time that the Parks agency were determined to press ahead with charges come what may, regardless of the strength of local opinion. What angers me is that, contrary to assurances I was given, procedures are being used to drive through the charges without parliamentary approval or further discussion.

"It has emerged that the current proposals (as regards very costly surfacing of car parks) are quite different from those submitted for public consultation and that the decisions were made without evidence from traffic survey data.

"This is a classic case of an unelected quango behaving in an arrogant, high handed way. I hope that, at this late stage, the Minister and quango-crats can respond to reasonable appeals for further discussion."