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Car parking cash drop sparks fears for Wolverhampton city centre

Cash from car parking charges in Wolverhampton has hit a five-year low - sparking fears shoppers are deserting the city centre.

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Money raised through parking fees and penalty fines has fallen from £3,143,458 in 2009 to £2,772,112.

And while the city council still made a profit of £784,145 last year from its car parks, on-street spaces and penalties, five years ago its profits were more than half a million pounds higher at £1,226,013.

Councillor Wendy Thompson, leader of the Conservative opposition group, said it was a sign that people were going elsewhere to park and shop.

"This could be a sign of the malaise in the city centre," she said. "If income from car parking has dropped then that is an indication, as charges haven't dropped significantly in that time.

Empty shops on Victoria Street, Wolverhampton

"People are choosing to go elsewhere and that's not good for Wolverhampton.

"We'd obviously like to see the city centre as busy as possible. There are businesses here that would love to see a greater number of people coming into the city."

The price of parking in the main Civic Centre costs £4.20 for up to four hours, compared to free parking at both Wednesfield's Bentley Bridge retail park and Dudley's Merry Hill centre.

And earlier this year, a £1 evening fee was introduced on car parks including Fold Street and School Street when they were previously free after 5pm. Sunday and bank holiday charges were also introduced with drivers facing the same fees in place on weekdays.

The cost of on-street parking in the city also went up by 10p to 60p for 20 minutes.

As of September, 22.4 per cent of the shops on Wolverhampton's high street were standing empty and 19 shops closed in the first six months of the year.

Councillor Andrew Johnson, Wolverhampton council cabinet member for resources, said: "Income generated from car parking and fines pays for the cost of managing and maintaining car parks.

"Surplus sums are reinvested into improving the highway infrastructure of the city. Our car parking charges are competitive – you can park in the city centre for two hours during the day for just a £1.

"The costs for the majority of car parks have also just been frozen for the year ahead."

Nationally, average council profits from car parking have been growing for the last five years, leading some to accuse councils of 'coining it' at the expense of motorists.

But RAC Foundation director Professor Stephen Glaister said the trend could change.

He said: "One sign that the escalation in parking profits might be coming to an end is that much of this year's increase comes not from growing income from penalties and charges but cuts in the cost of parking operations.

"This suggests local authorities are making efficiency savings and should bring some good news to both drivers and council tax payers.

"The bottom line is that parking policy and charges must be about managing traffic not raising revenue."

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