Mixed feelings as crisis-hit Birmingham City Council proposes car parking fees at Sutton Park

The local authority declared itself "effectively bankrupt" in September as a result of an almost £1 billion bill, with equal pay claims and the failed implementation of a new IT system among the reasons why.

As part of its budget proposal, the crisis-hit council has revealed plans to introduce car parking charges as a number of its parks, including in Sutton Coldfield.

It continued to say that "preparation and capital works (will) take place in 2024/25 for implementation in 2025/26."

A supporting document read: "An annual season season ticket option will be offered for the benefit of regular park users.

"Park users/citizens will be asked for their opinions on a suitable pricing structure and feedback will be sought on the cost of a season ticket through the forthcoming public consultation.

"Parking charging period will end at 5pm meaning evening parking will remain free (the benefits of which will be felt most in the summer months).

"Reviews of the car park charging scheme will take place post-implementation to ensure the effectiveness of the mitigation measures."

Birmingham City Council previously lodged plans to introduce car parking fees at its parks in 2022 which were eventually thrown out.

Councillor Majid Mahmood, Birmingham City Council cabinet member for environment, added: "These remain proposals at this stage and, if approved, informal consultations will follow, including consultations with stakeholders where we will seek feedback on the plans.

"Further formal consultations will then follow for the proposed parking charges and for traffic restrictions (as deemed suitable by the respective Highways departments)."

The latest proposals have been met with concern by Councillor David Pears, who serves the Sutton Trinity ward and is chair of the Sutton Park Advisory Committee.

Mr Pears said: "When the charges came up a few years ago we consulted the residents, we had a public meeting and more than 100 residents came up all with one opinion and that was against it.

"There are a lot of residents who live near the park where a charging scheme would mean people parking outside the park for free, so it would clog up the local roads where there isn't enough parking capacity anyway.

"The big issue that residents don't like is that the money this would generate would not necessarily go to Sutton Park, it would go in the big black hole of Birmingham City Council.

"There are other ways of generating income in the park that shouldn't include what is being proposed here. What we do want to see is investment in the park.

"There is a lot of people locally that have low income, it is not all an affluent area. There is also a lot of people who go to the park who live in areas where incomes may be low, so are they going to get in the car to spend (money) for a half-an-hour walk – I think it will deter people.

"There has been no investment for the last 12 years in the park really. What we have seen is facilities deteriorate, roads deteriorate, few park rangers, the woodland management team have been disbanded some years ago, so it has sadly got very neglected."

Friends of Sutton Park Association member, Keith Hopkinson, said whilst he doesn't disagree with the proposals, he hopes the money generated would be reinvested into the park.

The association hosts regular ecological and archaeological walks in the park with an aim to educate and help maintain it.

Keith, who is also a Sutton Coldfield resident, said: "The park desperately needs to be better maintained so by charging cars, it would be a good way to raise funds and one I think the public will understand depending on how it is done.

"Personally, I think given the improvements in technology, I would charge at the entrance of the park. I would put barriers with number plate recognition and a smart card entrance and a season ticket for local residents – I think that would be a better way to introduce it.

"The issue is that because it is Birmingham City Council, there is nothing to say the money raised will go directly into the park and that would be my other concern, that everything done will get lost in the council rather than where it should be which is raising money for Sutton Park."

Andy Biddle, founder of the Sutton Coldfield Litter Action Group, also called for better maintenance of the park if the charging scheme was to be introduced.

The volunteer-run group was set up in 2021 and occasionally hosts litter picks in the park.

The 68-year-old said: "If you are charging to go into the park then that money should go towards its upkeep, it shouldn't be going to offset Birmingham City Council's deficit.

"Personally, I wouldn't mind paying a car parking fee as long as I knew that money was going to the maintenance of Sutton Park."

As part of the council's plans, car parking charges have also been proposed at Lickey Hills County Park and Sheldon County Park.