Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park: third price hike in a year for visitors - how much and why

A report, set to be discussed by cabinet today, revealed the crisis-hit council’s plans to increase a huge array of fees and charges. Leisure and sport, bereavement services and rubbish disposal would all be impacted if the proposals are given the green light.

According to the report, by the council’s finance director Fiona Greenway, the current estimated budget gap for 2025/26 stands at around £47 million.

“There is a corporate expectation that all fees and charges will increase by ten per cent for the 2025/26 financial year to help to mitigate the council’s current and forecast future budget pressures,” it went on to say.

“Any increase should balance the needs of residents with financial imperatives.”

Higher admission charges for Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park (BWCP) in Pershore Road are among the Labour-run council’s huge list of proposals.

The local authority’s unprecedented budget, passed through in March this year, saw a ten per cent increase in entrance fees, bringing the cost of an adult ticket to £8.40.

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The cost of a ticket for children aged three to 15 also rose to £4.20.

Months later, during the summer, a second price hike applied during ‘peak times’ – weekends, bank holidays and school holidays – was approved by the council’s cabinet. The cost of an adult ticket at the conservation park during those times is now £10 while the ‘peak times’ price for a child aged three to 15 is £6.

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But now, the council’s new proposals, which would take effect from January 1 2025, would see the attraction’s prices rise once again. If approved, an adult ticket would cost £11 during ‘peak times’ while the price of a ticket for a child aged 3 to 15 would also rise to £6.50 for those times.

It would mean the cost for an adult wanting to visit the attraction on weekends, bank holidays or school holidays has risen from £7.65 to £11 in less than a year.

Under the new proposals, a family day ticket, for two adults and three children, would also cost £36.50 during peak times. That same ticket would have cost just £25 less than a year ago.

However, tickets for children under three-years-old would remain free.

Speaking about the conservation park back in July this year, Coun Nicky Brennan said: “You can still, with the price increase, get into the nature centre for less than the price of an adult ticket at other attractions in our city and you probably spend more time there.

“It’s got some absolutely wonderful animals that you perhaps wouldn’t see in other zoos, including our amazing red pandas. There is still a lot of scope to do more,” cabinet member Coun Majid Mahmood added at the time. “This wasn’t just about price increases – this was the start to make it more commercially viable for us as a council as well.

“I think VIP experiences is something we really do need to look at”.

According to a previous report, the council is looking to “enhance the commercial viability and financial sustainability” of the attraction.

“As part of the council’s broader financial strategy, opportunities are being taken to maximise and accelerate income earning opportunities,” it stated.

It said ticket prices at the conservation park were “relatively low in comparison to other similar local attractions”.

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“The proposed BWCP pricing strategy aims to balance affordability with financial sustainability,” the report continued. “This means visitors have a choice as to when they visit and if they choose to visit at peak times, the cost will be greater”.

On whether the attraction should retain its current pricing structure, it added: “The current static pricing model does not reflect the varying demand throughout the year and doesn’t maximise income earning opportunities.”

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Other proposed fee and charge increases set to be considered today include:

• Bulky waste collections rising from £45 to £55 per collection.
• Many fee rises within bereavement services.
• An increase in charges for several sports and leisure services, which could affect users of Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr.

Cabinet has been recommended to approve the proposed increases to fees and charges.

The city council has faced alarming financial issues amid Birmingham-specific issues, such as an equal pay fiasco and the disastrous implementation of a new IT and finance system, as well as the rising demand for services and funding cuts.