Walsall street parking will be tripled in price

The cost of residents-only parking permits for people living in traffic-clogged streets in a Black Country town is to be tripled from £20 to £60 per year under new plans revealed today.

Any additional permits will cost £70 a year per household under the proposals in Walsall. The rise in prices would help cover the cost of enforcing the schemes, for which the council is getting 100 requests a year from residents in congested streets. Drivers of big cars will be hit most.

Drivers of gas-guzzling versions will be hit with the full cost, while those who can prove their vehicles are producing fewer carbon dioxide emissions get a 50 per cent discount.

Permits will be issued free to blue badge holders and carers will get a 50 per cent discount as well.

The proposals form part of a draft revised policy to be put before the environment scrutiny committee next week before going out to consultation and then before cabinet for approval.

In a report, Paul Leighton, group leader for traffic management at Walsall Council, said: "Whilst there is a general recognition residents should not have to meet the full cost of providing and operating a residents-only parking regime, the provision of an ongoing significant subsidy is becoming more difficult to justify."

The parking schemes will generally apply from Monday to Friday between 8am and 6.30pm and some businesses will also be able to apply for permits.

There are five existing residents' parking schemes in Walsall in streets near Walsall Manor Hospital and Banks's Stadium, the home of Walsall Football Club.

The cost of a parking scheme is around £5-10,000 per zone and a criteria has to be met for streets to qualify with points for whether streets are on a main bus route, how many households there are and whether they are near to schools or other busy sites.