Council leader defends parking charge increase
BIRMINGHAM City Council leader John Clancy has defended proposals to charge motorists up to £6 for two hours of on-street parking in the inner city zone on Sunday.
The council will axe the £2.50 charge for two hours in the inner city zone on Sundays and replace it with the daily rate of £6 for two hours between 8am and 6pm.
Price bands from 6pm to 7.30pm are also being increased as are prices in outer areas like the Jewellery Quarter.
Talking to BBC WM from France where he is attending the MIPIM international property conference, Cllr Clancy said: “We’ve had to take a £600 million spend out of the city in the last six years.
“Regretfully we do have to look at many ways of raising revenue. We are cutting services in relation to all sorts of things.
“We think this is an option and are consulting on this at the moment.”
The council wants to implement the charges from Saturday, April 1.
But Tory leader Cllr Robert Alden has called for the proposals go before scrutiny in a bid to get them abolished. The move could delay their implementation by several days even if they get the go ahead. When asked if putting up prices by such an amount might raise less revenue, the council leader added: “The model we are looking at suggests that is not the case.”
The parking charge hike has wor- ried some smaller businesses in the city centre, many of which fear they may lose weekend or evening trade.
Nishil Nathwani, who is about to launch new restaurant Siamais in Brindleyplace having already opened the Aluna bar in the Mailbox, said he was disappointed to learn of the latest planned increases for parking.
“Independent businesses are already facing big hikes in rateable value charges and rents,” he said.
“It would help if the council had more businessmen.”
Damascena coffee boss Anas Zein said: “I just don’t see the point of charging £6 for two hours on a Sunday because there are always spaces.
Nigel Barker, landlord of The Wellington on Bennetts Hill said: “It makes you wonder what the council is doing to support local businesses.”
Phil Hazel, who runs The Liqour Store clothing outlet in the Great Western Arcade and is opening new premises on Colmore Row later this month added: “We are not a premium site like the Bullring which has its own serviced car park.”