Controversial parking charges at Dudley’s Merry Hill Centre are unlikely to be introduced before the end of 2011, it emerged today.

Dudley Council’s deputy leader says centre owners Westfield would not start charging shoppers until they find out if major expansion has been given the go-ahead.

This depends on a council document dubbed the Brierley Hill Action Plan, setting out how £1.5 billion will be invested into the area, being given the seal of approval.

The plan makes it clear the Merry Hill Centre cannot grow until it introduces parking fees.

Plans to start charging shoppers have been on the cards for years.

Councillor Jones said: “Westfield’s recent response was that charges were on hold indefinitely.

“Westfield won’t know whether major expansion is possible until the end of 2011 so it is probable it will not look to introduce parking fees until at least that date.”

Big car parks would have to operate charging schemes otherwise the council would not be able to attract government funding to improve public transport links in the area, Councillor Jones said.

He added: “The only way to make Brierley Hill a strategic town is to increase Merry Hill by 20 per cent and under current conditions we are talking about expanding the volume of traffic hitting Merry Hill by the same amount putting a major strain on the roads.

The plan also highlights how roads around the town are “heavily congested” and many shoppers visiting Merry Hill use their cars because of the “substantial amounts” of free parking.

Public transport in Brierley Hill is “inferior” to that in Dudley says the report.

Westfield was unavailable for comment.