Free parking set to return to Dudley borough - here's when

Dudley Council will scrap parking charges for the first two hours in its budget for the coming financial year.

The new measures could bring a much-needed boost to town centre businesses battling the cost of living crisis.

The authority’s leader, Cllr Patrick Harley, confirmed the change ahead of a meeting of the cabinet on January 29 when the reduction will be formally announced.

Cllr Harley told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We always said when we removed the two hours free parking, as the council’s finances improved, if they improved sufficiently enough, we would revisit the decision.

“I’m pleased to say, in the coming budget in early March we will be reintroducing the two hours free car parking for all Dudley Council-owned car parks.”

The introduction of charges in October 2024 prompted a wave of resistance from town centre business owners who said they were losing trade as a result.

Cllr Harley, who runs a pub, said: “It’s been a rough time, as someone who has got his own business I understand how tough that high street is but I’m hoping this measure goes a long way to show we have stuck to our word that we would introduce free parking when we could afford it.”

Despite the furore following the introduction of charges, Cllr Harley believes it was the right move to steer council finances away from effective bankruptcy.

He said: “We had to stand by that decision, we had to do everything we could to try and claw in as much money as possible.

“The recovery happened far quicker than even I anticipated hence we were able to revisit the decision.”

Free parking in Dudley Town Centre set fo implementation in mid-March

Implementation of charges caused a drop in use of council car parks, prompting a cut in charges to 50p for short-stays in October 2025 however the measures did not bring in expected income.

A report for the council’s cabinet in November 2025 said the authority’s budget was down by £700,000 ‘due to a higher than anticipated reduction on ticket sales’ and the cut to the 50p tariff created a financial pressure of £100,000.

Cllr Harley insists the scheme did its job, he said: “Income from car parking was where we budgeted for.

“Since we introduced the 50p charge, which is what residents and traders were asking for, usage on those car parks has massively increased.

“We have tried to do the right thing, balancing the council’s finances, when we said we could we reduced the charges to 50p, now we are in a position to introduce the full two hours.”

Full council is set to approve the 2026/27 budget, which will include the changes to charges, at its meeting on February 23 and Cllr Harley believes the introduction of free parking will follow quickly.

He said: “The biggest problem is changing the signage, they can do that pretty quickly so I anticipate a few weeks after the budget we can reintroduce that two hours free parking.”