Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Culture, Media and Sport – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 13 June 2005.
The road has been closed since 2003. There has been an assessment, and there are certainly no safety concerns.
In making a judgment, I had to bear in mind that people were using the road and not stopping in Richmond park, and also that this was a site of great scientific interest. It is to conserve the park, not just for the people of Richmond but for the people of the nation, that the gate remains closed.
The hon. Lady asked about consultation. My predecessors did consult. That is why the Friends of Richmond Park support my decision.