Not, I suspect, as great as claimed. Less than you might think. The pollution generated by idling vehicles is far greater than that of moving vehicles, and much of it was seeping inexorably into the park over the boundary wall. And think of the devastating impact on people and historic buildings in places such as Ham and Petersham if Campaign Against Traffic in Richmond Park gets its way. It can also be congested on sunny weekends by drivers trying to find a place in the overcrowded car parks.
Campaigners say they shouldn t come by car in the first place.
But for those not lucky enough to live close by, or who are infirm, or not on a convenient bus route, it can be the only way. Of course, in an ideal world through traffic wouldn t be there. But the roads of Richmond Park have been part of the local infrastructure since at least the last century. To deny access to them now would have repercussions far more serious than the damage, real or hyped, done to the park by cars. We re increasingly ruled by self-righteous pressure groups, who won t give in until they get their way.