Cash-strapped Dudley Council to fund £2.5m car park

A multi-storey car park, creating hundreds of new spaces in a town centre, has moved a step closer with ground surveys being carried out at the site.

But where the cash will come from to pay for the £2.5million project for Tower Street in Dudley remains unclear as finance bosses at the cash-strapped council bid to avoid taking out a loan.

Earlier this year, the council announced it was moving forward with plans for the scheme that was first unveiled two years ago following repeated calls from traders for more parking in the heart of the town.

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Work on ground surveys has taken place at the site as the council continues to put together a planning application for the project.

Officers are also applying for money to a growth fund to pay for the car park. If the bid is unsuccessful, the council will look to take out a loan for the scheme.

Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, cabinet member for transportation, said the parking was a justified investment to support town centre regeneration.

He said: "A business plan is being put together and a couple of options are being looked at to fund the scheme.

"An application has been made for money from a growth fund – I'd rather we had the grant than taking out a loan, of course."

The car park will have between 200 and 250 spaces.

Plans have been changed to move the development back from the street to leave an open space.

The space could be used for retail units.

Councillor Ahmed said: "We are doing the ground survey and plans are now being drawn up for a formal planning application asking for approval for the scheme.

"However, it is not likely work will begin building the car park until 2016."

He added: "The car park is needed. If you look at Flood Street car park, most of it is not used. But if people can leave their car right in the centre of town I believe that will bring more people in.

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"This is about attracting business to support the town economy."

The car park would be pay and display.

The plans move forward as the council continues work on a new £6million market place in the town centre.

There are also plans for a new supermarket and other improvements to the historic town centre. There are three proposals on the table for supermarkets, two on the Cavendish House site and one at Falcon House off King Street.

Visitors to the town centre can currently leave their cars in Stafford Street and Flood Street car parks.