'Parking charges and tram delays are killing Dudley'

Andrew Griffin helps a friend run a florist in Churchill shopping centre and says the town "needs free parking back."

"Car parking charges came at the wrong time, we've got the metro behind time, the bus station, and the economy is in a downturn, everybody is finding it difficult."

Those were the words of one Dudley resident who said council leaders needed to act before it was too late.

The Black Country town has had a challenging 12-months after parking charges were introduced while phase one of the tram system remained under construction, residents said.

Work to link Dudley to the West Midlands Metro route into Wolverhampton and Birmingham started in 2020, but it has not yet been completed.

"I don't know what's going to happen with businesses here, I think there are going to be more fatalities," Andrew Griffin, who helps a friend run a florist in the town centre, said.

"We've noticed in the last 12 months since the parking charges have been introduced that trade has fallen off a cliff. We need that two hours free parking back."

Residents say the town has had a challenging 12-months after parking charges were introduced

Earlier this year, the council scrapped the free parking blaming budget pressures. They have since decided to reduce some tarrifs with drivers set to be able to park for 30 minutes for 50p. One-hour stays will be £1, and two hours will cost £2.

Speaking on BBC Radio WM's Hot Seat with Ed James, council leader Patrick Harley explained the councils stance.

"I'm immensely proud that I spearheaded the campaign to introduce two hours of free car parking quite a while ago now, so I am disappointed that we had to remove it," he said.

"Like a lot of authorities in England, we were facing possibly a 114, we haven't reached that stage and I don't think we will.

"But we had to look at ever single measure we could to balance the councils books."

Councils cannot be made bankrupt - but they can issue a section 114 notice. This means they cannot commit to any new spending, and must introduce a new budget that falls within their spending envelope.

If finances improved parking charges would be revisited, Harley said.

Dudley Council Leader Patrick Harley explained the councils stance on parking charges.

Mr Griffin and other residents also raised concerns about the amount of time it was taking to complete the new metro line.

According to Midlands Metro Alliance, the extension will be delivered in two phases with the first to the town centre expected to complete main construction activities shortly. The route should open to passengers after a period of testing, commissioning and driver familiarisation.

Harley acknowledged the residents concerns and said he did not understand why there was such a delay.

The tram extension is not a Dudley Borough Council project, but is being built by Transport for West Midlands, West Midlands Combined Authority and Midlands Metro Alliance.

"They should be testing the trams by the end of the year for safety and it should be operational, I believe, by spring time next year," he added.