No parking charges on Royal Wedding day

Parking charges in council-run car parks around the West Midlands will be waived on the day of the Royal Wedding, it emerged today.

Wolverhampton City Council has announced that parking will be free at all its car parks and on street parking bays, with the exception of the Civic Centre car park, on Friday, April 29.

Dudley Council is waiving all its parking charges as are others in Walsall, Lichfield and Cannock Chase. However, local authorities in Sandwell, Stafford and Wyre Forest are not lifting charges.

Stafford Council spokesman Will Conaghan said: "We have free parking on Sundays and Christmas Day but not bank and public holidays."

Steve Woodward, Wolverhampton City Council's head of street scene services, said: "The Royal Wedding is classed as a public holiday rather than a Bank Holiday, and the city council has traditionally always charged for parking as normal on a public holiday.

"However, we are pleased to announce we have chosen to waive fees on this occasion."

The free parking will be available between 5am on Friday, April 29, until 5am on Saturday, April 30.

Temporary signs will be put up in council-run car parks in Wolverhampton city centre.

As the pay and display machines will still accept money on Friday April 29, and refunds will not be possible, motorists are advised not to attempt to use them on the day.

Mr Woodward added: "Unfortunately as the day is not officially recognised as a Bank Holiday our electronic parking machines will treat it as any other Friday.

"However, our civil enforcement officers will not be enforcing payment at on and off-street car parks on the day."

The only exception will be the Civic Centre car park where charging is imposed every day, including on Sundays and Bank Holidays, because of staffing and security costs.

South Staffordshire Council run car parks are free all the time.