Beauty spot parking consultation formally launched

Three separate consultations to introduce parking charges at three Birmingham parks have been formally launched

A public consultation to introduce parking restrictions at three of Birmingham's beauty spots has been launched.

Many residents opposed plans to introduce parking charges at Sutton Park, Sheldon Country Park and Lickey Hills Country Park during an informal survey that took place last year.

But Birmingham City Council has launched a formal consultation, adding that the parking charges will help achieve "necessary savings" as part of its 2025/26 budget.

Surplus revenue from the charges would be used towards investing in renewable energy projects and improvements in biodiversity, said the council.

The consultation said: "As part of the budget for 2025/26, the principle of charging was agreed to achieve necessary savings and help sustain, protect and maintain our 660 parks and green spaces,"

"Introducing charges at [the three parks] will bring Birmingham in line with similar places around the UK, to offset the cost of maintaining this destination site."

Surplus revenue from the charges would also be used to:

• Provide reinvestment funds for parks infrastructure.

• Make improvements to the park and overall visitor experience e.g. pothole and fence repairs.

The original proposals said all three parks would cost visitors £2.20 for up to two hours, £3.30 for two to four hours, and £5.00 all day between 09:00 BST and 17:00 BST, 365 days a year.

The revised plans for Sutton Park and Lickey Hills Country Park, which crosses the Worcestershire border, have now changed to £1 per hour up to four hours and £5.00 all day.

Sheldon Country Park has been decreased to £0.75 per hour up to three hours and £3.50 all day.

The new proposal also stated that a yearly pass will cost £52.00 for all three parks, alongside the introduction of a 30-minute "grace" period.

'Controversial and unpopular'

A total of 919 respondents in the previous consultation (78.4 per cent) felt access to Lickey Hills should remain free.

For Sheldon Country Park, that figure was 120 respondents (65.9 per cent), while for Sutton Park it was 2,741 respondents (68.2 per cent).

Acknowledging the opposition to the proposed charges, a recent council report said introducing parking charges is often "controversial and unpopular".

But it maintained that the projected income from the parking charges still falls short of the cost of maintaining the three parks in question.

"Therefore, it is deemed reasonable to ask park users to contribute financially to the upkeep and maintenance of these parks," it said.

"Despite the introduction of parking charges, there will still be a requirement for financial support from the council's general fund to maintain and manage these parks."

The report went on to say there was more support for the revised parking charges, which were lower than the consulted ones.

The three separate consultations for Sutton Park, Lickey Hills Country Park and Sheldon Country Park close on 29 August.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.