Trader offers to buy car park as charge hike hits

Steve Williams on Level Street car park which he offered to buy after charges were introduced

A businessman said he was so worried about the effect of new parking charges on trade that he offered to buy a car park from the council.

Steve Williams, who runs Sound Junkies, said he told Dudley Council he was willing to purchase Level Street car park in Brierley Hill after the authority stopped offering two hours of free parking at its sites.

Since the revised tariffs came into effect at the start of October, Mr Williams, whose Dudley Road rehearsal studios are next to the car park, said he had seen a big fall in business.

The changes are part of a new strategy to encourage use of public transport, according to the council.

Free two-hour parking across Dudley borough was axed on 1 October, leaving shoppers facing fees varying between £1.20 for one hour and £2.50 for two.

Some councillors have suggested they will address businesses' concerns in a second phase of reforms next year.

Mr Williams explained: “If I didn’t think it would affect me I wouldn’t offer to dig into my own pockets and go and buy the car park.”

However, he said he was told the land was not for sale.

Mr Williams said there was not enough on-site parking at his business and that the neighbouring car park provided essential extra spaces.

He said on Sundays the number of bands using the studios had fallen from about 15 to 20, to between three and six.

“I get the council has got to make money but they are doing it in the wrong places,” he said.

“Put council tax and business rates up but don’t start keeping our customers away.”

Retailers are also concerned about a new parking ban on the high street.

Luke Nawaz, from A1 Motor Spares, said he had seen a drop in trade of 30 to 40 percent.

“People used to be able to pop in, they are not able to do that now,” he said.

Wayne Lewis, owner of Smart Simple Repairs, said it was not just shoppers who were feeling the pinch.

“I am here for 12 hours a day, why can’t we be given a permit as traders to park on a council car park for free?” he said.

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