Car parking charges are to be introduced at the Black Country’s Merry Hill shopping centre by next summer, it has been revealed.The centre at Brierley Hill has boasted free parking since it opened in 1987, butcentre bosses finally confirmed a £10 million ‘vehicle management system’ today.
Moves are also planned to ease traffic jams around the centre.
Prices will start at 50p for the first hour, rising to £1.50 for up to three hours, £2.50 for four, £3.50 for five, with £1.50 increments for each additional hour.
Parking will remain free after 7pm, with a flat rate of £1 on Sundays.
No firm timetable has been set for the introduction of the charges, but bosses have pencilled in June 2007 as a start date.
Centre staff will be allocated their own free car park for the first year, with a view to subsidised fees in the future.
The news was today welcomed by shopkeepers in nearby town centres, who had long campaigned for the charges claiming the centre’s free parking was killing their trade.
Site owners Westfield say the move is a crucial part of Brierley Hill’s bid to become an official town centre and that Merry Hill would become more accessible following the completion of the Midland Metro and bus service and road network improvements.
They say the scheme will involve a unique hi-tech congestion-busting system, with LCD displays on approaching roads to inform drivers where spaces are available and will create 12 new jobs.
Assistant manager at the centre, Nicky Randall, said: “Government legislation which requires all centres to charge for parking are in the pipeline. We would have to do this anyway and it will put us in line with town centres across the region.”
By Richard Williams
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“We live in Birmingham and occasionally visit Merry Hill. The car parking charges will be a disincentive. I always avoid shopping centres with car parking charges and rarely visit Birmingham City Centre. Merry Hill is too far for a bus journey for us and we do not visit it as an alternative to Dudley. We visit it because it is different to our local centres. The winners here will be the supermarket giants as they increase their sales of non food goods.” Lawrence Gabb
“How to kill off a thriving business centre in one easy move, I am so glad I am not a shareholder in Merry Hill, and even more glad I don’t own a business there.” Jim, Bearwood
“I think this a stupid idea it will mean people will find somewhere else to park outside peoples houses and people living near by will have all the nuisance.” P Clarke
“Will charges mean better security?” KW
“When parking fees are introduced to Merry Hill you will see a lot of stores begin to struggle to attract quality staff to work long and sometimes unsociable hours for what amounts to the minimum wage. We live by the centre and my wife works there two nights a week. To introduce these charges will make her begin to think if it’s worth all the hassle. Sort it out Merry Hill - if you want to charge make it cheap and safe.” David P
“Yet again another shot at the motorists. This will make these people think twice as the cost of petrol and travelling is expensive. Add to this another cost of parking and people will go there less often.” Kevin Ward, Stafford
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