Hampton Court to Keep Garden Charges

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 14th Feb 2005

Following a review of the 2004 season, the Hampton Court Palace authorities are to keep the new charges which, last year raised approximately £134,000, £96,500 net of expenses. A tenth of all palace visitors, 42,000 paid to visit the Gardens on a day basis and 800 others - mainly residents - invested in season tickets.

The Palace authorities expressed themselves pleased with the extra income (more than their £75,000 target) which has been used for gardening; and say that behaviour has also improved.

Vincent Cable MP, who had campaigned against the charges, said that "many residents will be disappointed by the decision. There are, probably, a lot of local people who would have visited the gardens but were put off by the charges.

"But I welcome the decision to freeze the charges in 2005 and especially welcome the indication that one of the changes I and others have been pressing for - late opening in summer evenings - may well be introduced."