Car parking charges at these Birmingham beauty spots move one step closer

Disgruntled councillors voted to write a letter objecting to a consultation on car parking charges across parks in Birmingham.

At a housing and neighbourhoods overview and scrutiny committee, councillors across the political spectrum raised their concerns over car parking charges.

At the start of September, councillors debated a report which sought to create both informal and formal consultations – and a full business case – for each car parking scheme. The parks outlined to have a car park charge include Lickey Hills, Rectory Park, Sheldon Country Park, Woodgate Valley Country Park and Sutton Park.

Cabinet documents show the city council to be largely in favour of bringing in the charges. Management of the parks, including upkeep, investment opportunities, and improving disabled parking bays, were cited as reasons

A document supplied to the cabinet meeting noted the council could have a net position of £140,000 at Lickey Hills. Car parking charges were approved by the council.

But Conservatives councillors Adrian Delaney and Bruce Lines requested a ‘called-in’ the decision for further scrutiny, but this was rejected. Therefore consultation will now take place as the proposals move forward.

Councillor Delaney, who represents Rubery and Rednal ward, claimed parks, such as Lickey Hills, must be operating for profit.

What did the councillors say?

He said: “The fact that the whole point of the exercise is suppose to raise money to invest in parks must be operating for profits. Equality and impact assessments are said to take place, and are in place for age and disability, but the report doesn’t say what these are.

“If they are on the same view previous equality impact assessments, then they’d probably take a narrow view of disability of those just those qualifying for blue badge. The council may say that because blue lights parking will remain free. But disability is much wider.”

Conservative councillor Ken Wood said there was “absolutely nothing” in the car parking documents that recognises Sutton Coldfield town council and its decision-making powers.

He said: “We’ve got the largest town council in the country. This has absolutely nothing here that says that consultation with the town council will take place.

“There is nothing here that even recognises their existence. This is not unusual because the city council for years refuse to acknowledge it. There’s going to be a huge backlash from the residents of Sutton Coldfield at any move to introduce car parking charges.

“Not only that, but recently the park benefited from a sizeable amount of cash from the government to improve the car park.”

Majid Mahmood, cabinet member for environment, said: “There’s other methods of public transport that people can use, but all of this will come into the consultation that we will be taking – a meaningful consultation for service users before we make a decision.”

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