I write this piece independently, provide it through my personal blogspot, as I am not representing any personal/political views, other than myself.
I will always hold Richmond Park so close to me. Although my school badge was the silhouette of a Richmond Park deer, and there was always a strong link between my Greycourt School and the park, I spent hours on end, cycling around Richmond Park from the age of about 11 (off-road, pathways, both alone and with young school friends). My first job was to work on Saturdays in my local Evans Cycles, Kingston, aged 16. I could sense my dream was to buy a road bike, meaning I could regularly train on the road around Richmond Park (leading to foreign adventures). In mid 2002, I was able to pre-order my ‘2003-model Bianchi’! I had trouble combining my love of cycling, with visiting my girlfriend in Birmingham, but primarily focussing on my Degree at Loughborough University. I was away, but I knew that Richmond Park was my home!
Saturday 14th October 2006, near the end of a club-run with London Dynamo, out of the saddle as I lead our group around some roller-skaters on the road, near Sheen gate.
WOAH!
I swerve sharply, but cannot hold it, I am down on the road…
The approaching car was correctly restraining to the speed limit of 20mph.
But there was no time for me!
Six months later, April 2007, I awake out of my comatose state.
The longest road begins.
I am still determined to keep hold of Richmond Park, as I remember it. It does hurt me now, when I go, I see such a large increase in users (both cars and bikes). I can sense that the park is hurting. It is not right. It is too special a place for us to destroy.
This Royal Park has lived for centuries, surviving World Wars, hurricanes, and numerous other struggles. It remains. We cannot choose to destroy it ourselves!
I provide two fascinating links for you.
'Richmond Park has become so popular that it attracts some 6 million visits per year - and since the first lockdown numbers have increased dramatically. In addition, the roads within Richmond Park are used by people as through routes between the town centres that surround it and to enable commuting to work. This huge number of visitors is taking its toll on the very wildlife and natural habitat that makes it such a draw.
In response The Royal Parks has introduced a Movement Strategy, the aims of which are to reduce the numbers of people driving in Richmond Park purely as a cut through and to reduce the amount of visitors coming by car. '
This is a link to an article Richmond Green Party’s webpage, providing their view regarding both Richmond and Bushy Parks. I know that the piece is strongly supported by various organisations of the areas surrounding Richmond Park, including Kingston Green Party.
The second piece, is my interview with one of the most prominent cyclists, of Richmond Park, Mr Paul Harknett. Co-leader of a number of roles, Mr Harknett helps run ‘Richmond Park Cyclists’, ‘VeloPark Surrey’ and ‘London Dynamo’ cycling club.
https://patrickgoodacre.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/paul-harknett-pdf-1.pdf
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