Popular Sheldon County Park in Birmingham could see superb farm closed and charges introduced

The crisis-hit council has proposed an enormous wave of ‘savings’ and cuts to local services as well as a council tax hike for a second year running.

The savings proposals will affect every resident in the city and impact waste collection, libraries, street lighting, culture, adult social care day centres, services for young people and much, much more.

One particularly divisive proposal was to introduce parking charges at Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield, Lickey Hills Country Park on the Worcestershire border and Sheldon Country Park, close to Birmingham Airport.

They could be introduced in the coming months if the council’s budget is passed through later this month.

Another proposal was for the ‘closure or transfer’ of Sheldon Country Park Farm, a former dairy farm which the Labour-run council says has been “superbly restored” and now showcases traditional methods of farming.

According to the authority, the farm has cattle, pigs, goats, geese and ponies.

The proposals mean the park, described as a wildlife haven, could see parking charges introduced while its beloved farm faces closure under the two separate proposals.

Asked if this prospect was unfair on residents who live in the area, council leader John Cotton said: “I know we’re also looking at options around how we can partner with others around the provision of a number of these facilities, including the farm.

“One of the things I’ve been really keen to change in this council has been its approach to partnership and ensuring we are using every opportunity to work with others.

“You’ve seen some of that with the changes to youth provision, where partnering with others means we can deliver better results for communities.

“That’s how I want us to be approaching the issues around Sheldon and a number of other places.”

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There was backlash among opposition councillors last year when the council launched a consultation on the proposed parking charges, with Coun David Pears (Conservative, Sutton Trinity) describing them as “unfair”.

“Time and time again, the Labour administration has attempted to introduce these parking charges,” he said. “Every time, residents have been clear they strongly oppose these charges at Sutton Park.”

Coun Adrian Delany (Conservative, Rubery and Rednal) argued they could mean “Labour’s double whammy of higher taxes for fewer services spreads ever further”.

He continued: “We’ve been in this situation with the city’s country parks like the Lickey Hills in the past and residents are also clear they don’t want these charges introduced.

“This is a cynical attempt by panicked Labour politicians”.

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Asked if such charges should be introduced at Lickey Hills, which were given as a gift to the people of Birmingham, Coun Cotton said: “It’s important we look at all options for raising income.

“I know sometimes these things can be unpopular and create challenges.

“But I think we’ve also got a responsibility to look at every opportunity we have to generate income to bring the budget back into balance.”

Cllr Majid Mahmood, the cabinet member for environment and transport at the council, said last year that Birmingham had “fantastic” green spaces across the city, including major parks with “great facilities”.

“But we need to be able to maintain them for the benefit of everyone,” he said in a statement.