U-turn urged over town centre car parking charges

Parking charges in town centres across Dudley borough must be reversed or businesses will face the consequences, traders warn amid similar fears from an MP.

So concerned is one retailer, Lianne Cronin, she says she has wondered whether Dudley Borough Council wants rid of some shops.

Under the revisions, visitors who were previously allowed two hours' parking free of charge have from 1 October faced fees varying between £1.20 for one hour and £2.50 for two.

The Conservative-led council said charges in Dudley, Halesowen and Stourbridge were necessary to meet the financial demands of maintaining its car parks.

A Labour MP representing residents has called on the authority to reconsider the switch.

Ms Cronin, owner of Cronin’s Books and Bits in Churchill Shopping Centre, Dudley, said her takings had reduced by 40 percent since the new fees came in one week ago.

Ms Cronin told the BBC: “I don’t mind them putting parking charges on once the [closed] bus station [reopens] and that is all sorted, but to do it now seems like they are just trying to get rid of the shops in Dudley.

“My takings last week, compared to even the week before are down 40 percent, and then on last year, even more than that.

“I just think we will all have to shut down, I don’t think there will be any point.”

She added: “None of the public want it either. Obviously the shops we’ve had to fight, we’ve had petitions, it’s just one thing after another.”

In Halesowen, the new parking charges came into force as a well-known retailer planned to close its doors after 144 years in business.

Dancers, which occupies a prime location in Halesowen town centre, shared the news with its followers on social media.

The store, established in 1880, sells clothing, gifts, school uniforms and dance wear.

While the family-run business hoped to continue sales of school uniforms online, it said a bricks and mortar operation was no longer viable amid rising costs, including energy bills, and the wider impact of online shopping.

Dave Dancer, the fifth generation of the family to run the business, told the BBC that the decision to close was made before the parking charges came into effect, but he feared for other retailers due to declining footfall.

Labour's Alex Ballinger, who was elected as the Halesowen MP in July, has shared a letter he wrote to the leader of Dudley Council.

"Shops in our town centres already struggle to compete with big shopping centres like Merry Hill. Now customers have a choice between paying for parking in Halesowen, or free parking elsewhere. They are likely to vote with their feet," he wrote.

Mr Ballinger urged Patrick Harley to reconsider the decision, which was approved at a council meeting in August as part of the authority's mid-term financial strategy.

The MP wrote: "I understand that Dudley Council is facing a difficult financial situation. But this decision will make a bad situation worse."

He told the BBC he would like to see an impact assessment study carried out to measure footfall in town centres following the introduction of parking charges.

"If it falls, they need to rescind the charges so that people can come back to the town to park with no cost," he said.

A report into car parking submitted to the council earlier this year highlighted the need for investment in existing car parks and an environmental obligation to reduce traffic.

The changes are expected to bring in £1.9m in the first full year, starting in 2025.

"Our primary objective is to encourage motorists to park outside the town centres - or use other forms of transport - reducing the number of vehicles entering the town centres," the report stated.

"Our 57 car parks have not kept pace with maintenance requirements such as surfacing, lining, signing, drainage. This needs investment and further review."

Mr Harley said: "The revised parking charges form part of the first phase of the parking strategy. Further consultation, including with local businesses, is proposed for phase two of the parking strategy.

"The review will consider other forms of travel, including the ongoing works to public transport in Dudley."

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