£3-a-day town centre car park is facing axe

One of the cheapest car parks in Walsall town centre, which charges £3 a day, faces being closed down after it sprang up without permission.

The unofficial parking area was created on a large patch of derelict land last month.

The car park off Lower Rushall Street has proved popular with motorists.

It costs drivers £3 to use all day — compared to £5 for an all-day stay on council car parks. But council chiefs say the business, run by GT Parking, does not have planning permission to operate at the site.

The land was formerly occupied by Eylands factory.

A planning application for a temporary commuter car park was turned down in 1997 on highways matters.

Head of planning at Walsall Council David Elsworthy said in a report that it was "dangerous" to attract more cars to the area, which is already a busy route.

Members of the planning committee are being asked to agree enforcement action to stop the land being used as a car park.

All advertising and direction signs would then have to be removed within one month if agreed by councillors.

Mr Elsworthy said: "Lower Rushall Street is one of the main arteries for traffic in Walsall town centre and one of the entrances to the car park can be accessed from off this road.

"It is therefore dangerous to have vehicles frequently using this uncontrolled car park in the town centre.

"The removal of these signs is required to improve the visual appearance and to prevent the site being used as a car park."

GT Parking was unavailable for comment today.

It comes as the local authority is preparing to bring in pay-by-phone parking on council-owned pay-and-display locations.

It will allow them to use debit and credit cards instead of coins. Pay and display machines are also being installed on 19 streets in and around the town centre for the introduction of on-street charges.

But parking fees in the borough will be reviewed later this year after the Government scrapped guidelines advising councils to charge higher rates.