Hopes to turn giant urban park into a money spinner

PROPOSED parking charges at a Sutton Coldfield beauty spot could be scrapped if plans to explore new commercial opportunities generate a big enough income.

Birmingham City Council earlier this year proposed charging car users to enter Sutton Park, sevendays-a-week, as opposed to its present policy of charging on Sundays only during the warmer months, as it bids to make up a shortfall in fund- ing and to invest in the park. Now the authority has invited tenders from companies to offer leisure and retail opportunities, generating money for a ground rent that could be reinvested in Europe’s largest urban park.

Parking charges were introduced in Edgbaston’s Canon Hill Park this month – with Sutton Park expected to follow suit.

Sutton councillors believe the business opportunities could mean users will not have to pay to use the park. The council’s tender document states: “Birmingham is renowned for being a green city, with numerous parks, areas of open space & open water; where people can be active and enjoy the great outdoors.

“The city council wishes to engage with experienced organisations or individuals with the relevant and appropriate experience to submit business plans and ideas to generate income from Sutton Park.” Any agreement would start in 2018 and for a period of four years initially.

There are three categories which companies can bid for:

Leisure activities such as donkey rides, land trains, Segway hire, or high rope activities;

Sporting activities which could include fitness training, boot camps, boating, ice skating or sports coaching;

Retail opportunities, such as car boot sales or weekend markets.

Sutton Vesey councillor Rob Pocock (Lab) said the council was now looking to sweat its assets, draw people to the park and generate money rather than a harsh all-encompassing parking charge which may deter visitors. He said: “It’s obvious that money needs to be raised locally, to plug the gap left by the cuts in central government grants.”