Nineteen streets in Walsall town centre due for controversial new parking charges can be revealed today.

Between 35 and 50 machines will be installed in the streets over the next few weeks, with drivers to be charged 20p each 10 minutes, with a maximum stay of two hours.

The move, which will bring in Walsall Council £100,000 over the next three years, means free parking will be virtually eliminated from the town centre.

It comes as the cash-strapped council battles to save £65 million over the next three years.

Places where parking is currently free will be affected, including Ablewell Street, Station Street, Hatherton Street and Stafford Street.

A legal order has been produced detailing the exact locations of where charges will be introduced. Critics today hit out at the move saying it would deter people from coming into the town.

Labour councillor Dennis Anson, ward representative for Pleck, said: “My opinion is that we should draw people into the town instead of turning them away.

“I know what the idea is behind this, they want to get people into the car parks but at the same time, this is the wrong time to be doing it.

“We are in the middle of a recession and it’s a time when we need to be drawing people into the town.”

But Council leader Mike Bird said: “We are, as far as I’m concerned, the last town in the area to introduce on-street pay and display parking. I have opposed it over the years but sadly we’ve got to the situation where we need to raise income and ease congestion.

“These charges will prevent people from leaving their cars clogging up the streets all day.”

Formal objections to the order should be submitted to Walsall Council by December 10.