Concerns over parking charge plan for park

Almost 3,400 residents have signed a petition against plans to scrap free parking at War Memorial Park in Coventry

Fresh concerns have been raised over a council's plans to scrap free parking at a popular park.

Almost 3,400 residents have signed a petition against the move set for War Memorial Park in Earlsdon, Coventry.

Normally, visitors are afforded three hours' parking for free, but Coventry City Council wants to scrap the provision.

The proposal is part of almost £11m in savings the Labour-run authority is considering this year.

'Inequitable'

At a meeting on Monday, the council's cabinet member for finance, Richard Brown, said the authority must close its budget gap and make "challenging" savings.

The changes proposed for the site would bring parking fees in line with those at Coombe Abbey Park, but Earlsdon councillor Dr Lynette Kelly, Labour, told members the two parks were used “very differently”.

She said: “The people who are least affected by bringing in charges for parking at War Memorial Park are some of the richest people in the city.

"I feel it’s inequitable to bring in these charges.”

A council report last month found the extra costs would disproportionately hit residents and visitors on fixed and low incomes, though some discounts would be available.

Conservative councillor John Blundell said he doubted the suggested £150,000 savings from the charges could be achieved.

He said he hoped a recent government funding boost for councils could be used instead, adding: “I think it would be extremely popular and there’s a lot of people that would benefit."

Deputy leader of the opposition, Peter Male, Conservative, pointed out the council’s budget plans included a surplus of about £2m this year.

However, Mr Brown said the new funding would not stretch far.

'Challenging targets'

Andrew Walster, director of street scene and regulatory services, said the council’s net spend on the site was £690,000 per year - more than a third of its overall spend on city parks.

He added the council was “confident” it could raise the extra £150,000 from parking fees.

Mr Brown said the government’s funding boost would not solve the longer-term budget gap the council faced and that a planned surplus was needed as some council plans had “challenging saving targets".

He told the meeting “virtually every other council in the country” faced the same challenge of having a budget gap and stressed that Coventry City Council had a legal duty to set a balanced budget and if it did not, a Section 114 notice would be triggered, bringing “serious consequences".

A Section 114 notice is a declaration a local authority is effectively bankrupt.

The authority’s final budget for 2024-25 is due to be signed off later this month.

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

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