Sandwell Valley parking fees agreed
Visitors to Sandwell Valley Country Park will now have to pay to park after council bosses agreed to bring in the controversial fees.
There had been objections to the plan from the public and despite more than 120 people signing a petition opposing the scheme, the council has not yielded to the pressure.
Parking has always been free at the country park but visitors will find themselves paying from 40p for an hour to £2 if they stay for more than four hours. Around 200,000 cars park at the site each year.
The council said it had received '56 separate reasons for objection' from aggrieved members of the public – but still aims to bring in the charges.
Councillor Maria Crompton said: "This is not a decision we wanted to make but it's a decision we've had to make. We cannot maintain the park without extra income coming in. We do not want the park to fall into disrepair. What money is earned from the new car parking charges will go straight back into maintaining Sandwell Valley."
Councillor Crompton said she would be recommending that charges only apply beween 9am and 3pm during the winter months.
A decision will be made at the next cabinet meeting.
