Birmingham City Council wants to introduce new parking charges at Sutton Park, Lickey Hills and Sheldon Country Park
An entrance to Sutton Park, Birmingham(Image: Nick Wilkinson/Birmingham Live)
Parking restrictions are being considered for a number of ‘hotspot’ Birmingham areas amid plans to introduce new charges at three beauty spots.
After it effectively declared itself bankrupt in 2023, Birmingham City Council has passed through an unprecedented wave of ‘savings’ and cuts to local services.
One of the most controversial proposals was to bring in parking charges at Sutton Park, Sheldon Country Park and Lickey Hills Country Park – three of the city’s most popular green spaces.
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A formal public consultation on the plans has now been launched following an informal one which took place at the end of last year.
“As part of the budget for 2025/26, the principle of charging was agreed to achieve necessary savings and help sustain, protect and maintain our 660 parks and green spaces,” it read.
“Introducing charges at [the three parks] will bring Birmingham in line with similar places around the UK to offset the cost of maintaining this destination site.”
It goes on to insist the proposed scheme will provide a number of benefits, including the introduction of parking restrictions to manage the impact of displacement parking for residents who live near the parks.
“The council is aware of the potential for displacement parking and will therefore be looking at parking restrictions in existing hotspot areas and any need for further restrictions following residents’ feedback,” the consultation page said.
Autumn leaves at Lickey Hills Country Park, Birmingham.(Image: Jacob King/PA Wire)
“A separate consultation exercise will be completed around parking restrictions.”
It went on to say surplus revenue from the charges would be used to:
- Fund investment opportunities to improve the park e.g. renewable energy projects, improvements in biodiversity.
- Provide reinvestment funds for parks infrastructure.
- Make improvements to the park and overall visitor experience e.g. pothole and fence repairs.
‘Controversial and unpopular’
The proposals have been met with backlash from those who took part in the informal consultation and opposition councillors.
A total of 919 respondents in the previous consultation (78.4 per cent) felt access to Lickey Hills should remain free.
For Sheldon Country Park, that figure was 120 respondents (65.9 per cent) while for Sutton Park it was 2,741 respondents (68.2 per cent).
Acknowledging the opposition to the proposed charges, a recent council report acknowledged: “The introduction of parking charges is often controversial and unpopular as users are asked to pay for something that has previously been free.”
However, it continued that the projected income from the parking charges still falls short of the cost of maintaining the three parks in question.
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“Therefore it is deemed reasonable to ask park users to contribute financially to the upkeep and maintenance of these parks,” it said.
“Despite the introduction of parking charges, there will still be a requirement for financial support from the council’s general fund to maintain and manage these parks.”
The report went on to say there was more support for the revised parking charges, which were lower than the consulted ones.
Coun Majid Mahmood, cabinet member for environment, previously also said there would be a grace period of 30 minutes and free parking permits for park volunteers.
Lickey Hills:
Original proposals:
£2.20 for up to 2 hours, £3.30 for 2 to 4 hours, £5.00 all day
Cost of annual parking permit price to be determined
Chargeable hours of 9am to 6pm, 365 days a year
Revised proposals:
£1 per hour up to 4 hours, £5.00 all day
£52 per annum
No change to chargeable hours (9am to 6pm, 365 days a year)
Birmingham City Council House in Victoria Square(Image: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Sutton Park:
Original proposals:
£2.20 for up to 2 hours, £3.30 for 2 to 4 hours, £5.00 all day
Cost of annual parking permit price to be determined
Chargeable hours of 9am to 6pm, 365 days a year
Revised proposals:
£1 per hour up to 4 hours, £5.00 all day
£52 per annum
No change to chargeable hours (9am to 6pm, 365 days a year)
Sheldon Country Park:
Original proposals:
£2.20 for up to 2 hours, £3.30 for 2 to 4 hours, £5.00 all day
Cost of annual parking permit price to be determined
Chargeable hours of 9am to 6pm, 365 days a year
Revised proposals:
£0.75 per hour up to 3 hours, £3.50 all day
£52 per annum
No change to chargeable hours (9am to 6pm, 365 days a year)