Free parking at park to remain in place

A petition to plans to scrap free parking claimed the move would reduce visitors

Free parking at a popular city park will not be axed as part of budget cuts, Coventry City Council has revealed.

The council had proposed removing the three-hour free parking at War Memorial Park in Earlsdon.

Under the plan, drivers would have been charged £1 to park for up to an hour and £5 for a full day - with a forecast it would raise £450,000 in three years.

But the plan has been dropped after more than 3,500 residents signed a petition against them.

The petition argued the charges would have added to traffic congestion on nearby roads and reduced the number of visitors to the park.

Richard Brown, council cabinet member for finance, said calls to drop the charges “came out really loud and clear” during the budget consultation process.

“There was a lot of support for us not to do that,” he said. “We heard what people said and we have acted.”

The council announced the decision as it published its final recommendations for slashing spending to balance its books this year.

The council is looking to make about £8.5m in service savings, to plug a £20m gap in its budget in the 2024/25 financial year.

'Charges inequitable'

The changes proposed for the site would bring parking fees in line with those at Coombe Abbey Park.

But at a meeting last week, Labour councillor for Earlsdon, Lynette Kelly, 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.

Conservative councillor John Blundell said he doubted the suggested £150,000 raised annually 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."

Budget vote

The council has retained almost all the proposals it had made for cutting spending and raising money, following a eight-week consultation.

It is set to go ahead with plans to charge £40 a year for the collection of garden waste, switch off 70% of overnight street-lighting, and increase parking charges in the city centre.

Funding is being pulled for five home-to-school bus routes, and travel support for children with special education and disability needs (SEND) is being reviewed.

The council has decided to increase council tax by 4.99%, the maximum amount.

Councillors will vote on the budget next week, and given Labour’s majority on the council, it is expected to be approved.