Changes to Sandwell parking charges
Recommendations to implement new parking charges in Sandwell following the
outcome of public consultation were agreed at Cabinet. These include discounted season tickets for parking on nominated days and additional free parking.
The plans outlined in the report mean the council will be able to continue delivering its parking service as well as supporting other council policy objectives, such as boosting active and sustainable travel, tackling climate change, and improving air quality. Income generated from off-street and on-street car parking charges is used to provide and maintain car parks, provide new parking restrictions such as residents’ parking schemes, tackle school gate parking and provide related services.
The report states that 30 per cent of Sandwell households do not have access to a car or van and that the cost of operating parking and traffic-related services should be borne by the car users who directly benefit from these services. The changes agreed by Cabinet on 21 June follow on from previous Cabinet report recommendations in July 2022 and the resultant four-week public consultation held in August and September 2022.
They seek to address the most significant concerns raised by residents and car park users at a public meeting earlier this year. These include:
discounted season tickets for parking on nominated days,
offering greater flexibility and choice for hybrid and part-time workers
a new low cost 30 minute charge for short stay parking to help businesses with passing trade
off-street car parking charges be reset from those previously proposed
short stay on-street parking charges remain unchanged
free parking on Sundays,
overnight between the hours of 6pm and 8am, for Blue Badge holders, and every Saturday for season ticket holders (not Sandwell Valley) all Saturdays in December - previously, the two Saturdays before Christmas (not including Sandwell Valley) 50 per cent discount for zero emission vehicles charges have been benchmarked and compared with other neighbouring Black Country authorities charges will be reviewed in 2025, not 2027 as originally proposed.
The move also supports other council objectives such as boosting active travel - walking and cycling for short journeys, and encouraging more sustainable and alternative travel options including public transport, car sharing, walking, cycling and pool cars where available.
Councillor Danny Millard, Sandwell’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Highways, said: “These changes are intended to bring our parking charges up to date and ensure we can continue to meet the cost of providing quality car parks and related services. “We are trying to balance the available parking with demand and support our wider ambitions to encourage active and sustainable travel, tackle climate change and improve air quality. “We also recognise that some people’s working and traveling patterns changed during the pandemic and continue to do so. “We recognise that car parking is an important issue and we have tried to respond to the most significant concerns which were raised following last year’s consultation, and at a public meeting held in February this year.” Sandwell’s parking charges haven’t been reviewed since 2016. if agreed agreed by Cabinet on 21 June will come into effect in October 2023.