Go-ahead set for parking charges at Sandwell Valley Country Park
Council bosses look set to go-ahead with controversial plans to introduce parking charges at Sandwell Valley Country Park, despite dozens of objections to the scheme.
A petition has been signed by 121 people opposing the scheme.
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.
Parking has always been free at the country park but visitors will soon have to pay from 40p for an hour to £2 for more than four hours.
Around 200,000 cars park at the site each year.
A report written to an highways meeting taking place on Thursday states: "No action (should) be taken in response to the objections received in relation to the introduction of parking charges in Sandwell Valley Country Park, West Bromwich."
Council bosses have said the proposed charges need to be brought in as it balances budgets in the wake of cuts in grants from central government.
Cabinet member Councillor Maria Crompton said the meeting on Thursday would give opponents a chance to air their views and some changes to the proposals could still be made.
She said: "We're having the meeting so people can come along and raise their objections, and that may colour what we do or change things.
"We could make adjustments to times and things like that, but we can't make a decision unless we have the meeting and people share their views.
"We are trying to do this in as fair a way as possible.
"Not everyone will be happy but we want to make sure people know we have listened to them and done the best we can.
"Unfortunately in these austere times the council needs money or some services will struggle.
"An awful lot of work needs to be done at Sandwell Valley, and without more money we won't be able to do that."
The new report states the Lloyd Street car park will be exempt from the charges.
Under the plans, people who walk their dogs or jog in the mornings or evenings will not have to pay parking charges, while regular visitors can get an annual pass for £40.
The standard charges are set to start from 40p for up to an hour to £2 for more than four hours.
A previous proposal to introduce a flat rate fee of £1 at car parks for Sandwell Valley Park and Farm, Dartmouth Park, Forge Mill Farm and Swan Pool was scrapped in July 2014 after it proved unpopular.
