Business backlash as free parking in village is axed

FREE car parking in a Midland village will be cut to 30 minutes – despite scores of businesses calling for visitors to be able to stop for an hour without being charged.

Solihull Council last month approved plans to remove free parking altogether from its off-street facilities in Knowle – scrapping the two-hour grace period visitors enjoy.

But it agreed to revisit the decision after a backlash from residents and traders. This week it agreed a 30-minute “free and display” period would remain.

Cllr Alan Rebeiro (Ind, Knowle), told the transport and highways meeting that there was ‘overwhelming’ support for an alternative option of having an hour without charges. He cited residents’ concerns that the High Street was “dying” and said shoppers who decided to go elsewhere because of the change would not come back.

But Cllr Ted Richards, the cabinet member for transport and highways, said it was important to realise that the council was facing considerable pressure on its budgets.

“In the last five years my department has had to find something like just over £2 million in savings. I’m charged this year to come up with £571,000 worth of savings,” he said.

“The council has finite resources and the situation we are faced with is that we have to make difficult decisions of this nature.”

It will now cost 20p to park between 30 minutes and an hour and 40p for between an hour and two hours. The changes could raise a £73,000 a year.