MP Tackles Hampton Court On Garden Charge

20.5.03

"Our minimum demand must be an exemption for Borough residents"

Following concerns raised by constituents about proposed new charges to visit parts of the gardens at Hampton Court Palace, Edward Davey, Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston and Surbiton, last Friday met up with new Director, Rod Giddins, at Hampton Court Palace to argue against any new charges.

Edward Davey told Mr Giddins that charging for the gardens would significantly reduce the numbers of local people visiting and could undermine the need to foster improved links between the Palace and the surrounding communities.

Edward Davey argued that local people's minimum demand would be an exemption for neighbouring boroughs. When told that there was a new question mark over the legality of such local exemptions, Edward Davey agreed to seek ministerial clarification of the issue (see attached).

The Kingston and Surbiton MP is urging all local people to reply to the consultation on this issue currently being undertaken by the Palace, and to send in objections to proposed charges.

Edward Davey commented:

"The public consultation needs to include some public examination of the palace accounts and the options for raising more money elsewhere.

"I believe the Palace should be working with neighbouring Boroughs and other nearby tourist attractions on ways of increasing overall visitor numbers, not finding new ways to turn away local residents .

"I put forward a number of alternative strategies and ideas, from linking with Kingston's exciting developments, including the new Elizabethan-style Theatre project, to working with Chessington World of Adventures. There are many more imaginative business approaches than simply more charging.

"It's vital that Hampton Court understand the value to them of the goodwill of neighbouring communities. I suggested they look at exemptions for residents of all the neighbouring Boroughs, as one option in their consultation. I will be examining in detail the initial legal objections raised to such an idea, as frankly they seem groundless."

Letter to Tessa Jowell

Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport,
2-4 Cockspur Street
London SW1Y 5DH

20th May 2003

EC Court Judgement (16th January 2003) on concessionary rates for access to local museums, monuments, galleries etc: implications for charging proposals at Hampton Court Palace and more generally

I recently met up with the Director of Hampton Court Palace, Rod Giddins, to voice my concern over proposed new charges for accessing parts of the Palace's gardens which are now free to visit. I would be interested to know your views on such a proposal and whether your Department is making a submission to the consultation on this matter, and if you will publish your submission.

More importantly, however, I would like to request that you ask your legal experts to examine the implications of a recent EC Court decision on the ability of local authorities and bodies like the Historic Royal Palaces, that operate local museums and galleries, to offer concessionary rates, including exemptions, from any entry fees. For when I proposed to Rod Giddins that the Palace could grant an exemption from any new charges to the residents of all neighbouring Boroughs, he argued that his advice was that such an exemption would be illegal, following this new Court ruling.

This would of course be significant, not just in terms of the consultation being undertaken by the Historic Royal Palaces for Hampton Court Palace gardens, but also more widely, for every museum, monument, gallery, park, garden and so on across the country. Indeed, because it has potential implications for local authorities across the country, I am copying this letter to Nick Raynsford at ODPM for his comment.

Since the consultation is due to take place during June, with the result announced in July, a relatively speedy legal view is required and I would be extremely grateful for your early reply. I believe Rod Giddins and the HRP Trustees would also value any legal advice your Department is able to provide.

Yours sincerely,

Edward Davey MP