Sandwell businesses claim parking charges are damaging trade

Council chiefs have been criticised by firms who say that by introducing charges to the council car park, staff were now parking in town centre car parks, therefore taking spaces previously used by customers.

In a letter to the council's complaints department, Kevin Onions, director of the Independent Mortgage Advice Bureau (West Midlands) Ltd on Birmingham Street, Oldbury, highlighted how large numbers of council staff were now using Low Town car park and Albert Street car park, instead of the council's own formerly free car park, despite them now both being the same price.

Mr Onions said: "The reason for this is that although it's the same price, they have to walk over the road bridge from the staff car park to the Council House, but they don't from the public car parks.

"It is ridiculous. You go into the staff car park now and there's lots of spaces, but in the public car parks if you are trying to get a space past 25 past eight in the morning, you are not going to."

He also thinks he has a solution to the problem. "I know the council needs the revenue, and I'm not suggesting they scrap the charges completely, but even if they just made the staff car park 25 per cent cheaper it would encourage them to park there again."

Also seeing the impact is Bairstowes estate agents, also on Birmingham Street. Sales team member Karen Hughes said: "It's an absolute nightmare. They suddenly just all turned up and there was nowhere for any of the staff to park. Instead we have to park further away and walk in."

The authority has been urged to rethink the proposals which saw parking charges set at the same price in all of the borough's six towns.

Councillor David Hosell, cabinet member for highways and environment, said: "Staff like everyone else have to pay to park in all the council car parks in Oldbury and there isn't any difference in the cost between Low Town, Albert Street and West Bromwich Street car parks.

"Shoppers can use short stay parking for up to two hours on streets in the town as well as having the option of other private car parks. So far we haven't had any other complaints about long stay parking in the town centre car parks since the new system was introduced. We will continue to monitor the situation to make sure we have the right balance between long and short stay parking in the town."