07:00, 29 Dec 2025<\/p>\n
![\"Birmingham](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767000859_424_0_escenic.jpg\")
Birmingham Labour councillor Majid Mahmood, cabinet member for environment\/Conservative MP Bradley Thomas, who is against parking charges at Lickey Hills(Image: Martin O’Callaghan \/ Birmingham Live)<\/p>\n
Birmingham residents face having to pay new parking charges at three beauty spots in 2026 despite a wave of opposition to the proposals.<\/p>\n
The Labour<\/a>-run city council, which found itself engulfed by a financial crisis, passed through an alarming wave of \u2018savings\u2019 and cuts to local services recently.<\/p>\n One proposal which has been particularly divisive was to bring in parking charges at Sutton Park, Sheldon Country Park and Lickey Hills Country Park.<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Former Birmingham day centre for vulnerable adults could become store amid council property sales<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Amid backlash from residents and opposition councillors, the council launched a formal public consultation on the plans back in August.<\/p>\n \u201cAs 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,\u201d it read.<\/p>\n \u201cIntroducing charges at [the three parks] will bring Birmingham<\/a> in line with similar places around the UK to offset the cost of maintaining this destination site.\u201d<\/p>\n It went 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.<\/p>\n One question posed to the council during this consultation was whether it had created \u201cnew financial barriers to accessing green space\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe recognise and fully support the importance of encouraging people to be active for their physical and mental health,\u201d the council said in response. \u201cThe introduction of parking charges is not intended to discourage exercise or reduce access to the park.<\/p>\n \u201cIncome from parking will be reinvested directly into maintaining and improving the park\u2019s facilities, [\u2026] ensuring it remains a safe, attractive and welcoming place for all visitors.<\/p>\n \u201cAccess to the park remains free \u2013 charges are not to use the park but only to park a vehicle.<\/p>\n \u201cHence, those travelling on foot, bicycle or by public transport would not be charged.\u201d<\/p>\n Responding to a question during the formal consultation for the Lickey Hills charges, the council said the proposed scheme could be implemented around Christmas<\/a>\/New Year.<\/p>\n This would be subject to the outcome of this consultation and the required \u201cgovernance and procurement processes\u201d, it added.<\/p>\n What have other political parties said about the parking charges?<\/strong><\/p>\n With an all-out city council election being held in May 2026, the local Conservatives have pledged to scrap the charges if they come to power.<\/p>\n Coun Robert Alden, Conservative<\/a> councillor and leader of the opposition, described the new charges are \u201cunfair, unjustified and completely out of touch with the people of Birmingham\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cResidents have overwhelmingly rejected these charges at every opportunity,\u201d he argued.<\/p>\n \u201cLabour\u2019s charges hit the least well off in the city the most.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not people who live in walking distance of these beautiful spaces, it\u2019s those living further afield, often with little garden space themselves, who have to drive to be able to access the benefits of the parks.\u201d<\/p>\n The Conservative MP for Bromsgrove<\/a> has also condemned the proposed charges for Lickey Hills, saying: \u201cWe\u2019re quite literally paying the price for Birmingham City Council<\/a>\u2019s financial mismanagement.\u201d<\/p>\n The Birmingham Liberal Democrats<\/a> have also fought against the parking plans, with Coun Colin Green saying: \u201cThe harm that will be done is beyond bearing for the residents.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy is this decision being made \u2013 it ought to be looked at again.\u201d<\/p>\n Coun Paul Tilsley added: \u201cThis will cause displacement parking in the surrounding roads.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are already complaints from residents about anti-social parking.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE: <\/strong>Birmingham landmark tower sale approved as councillor says \u2018do we have to?\u2019<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Reform UK<\/a> Birmingham Northfield<\/a> meanwhile has said the party\u2019s vision is to create a community where access to public spaces is \u201cfair, open, and genuinely inclusive\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe believe that removing financial barriers is essential to achieving this goal,\u201d it wrote on Facebook.<\/p>\n What has Birmingham City Council said about the proposals?<\/strong><\/p>\n The proposals were met with opposition from those who took part in the informal consultation, with a total of 919 respondents (78.4 per cent) feeling access to Lickey Hills should remain free.<\/p>\n 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).<\/p>\n The council has acknowledged that the introduction of parking charges is \u201coften controversial and unpopular\u201d.<\/p>\n But it continued that the projected income from the parking charges still falls short of the cost of maintaining the three parks in question.<\/p>\n \u201cTherefore it is deemed reasonable to ask park users to contribute financially to the upkeep and maintenance of these parks,\u201d it said previously.<\/p>\n \u201cDespite the introduction of parking charges, there will still be a requirement for financial support from the council\u2019s general fund to maintain and manage these parks.\u201d<\/p>\n A council report also stated there was more support for the revised parking charges, which were lower than the previously consulted ones.<\/p>\n The most recent consultation added that surplus revenue from the charges would be used to:<\/p>\n Coun Majid Mahmood, cabinet member for environment, also said previously there would be a grace period of 30 minutes and free parking permits for park volunteers.<\/p>\n The proposed parking charges are as follows:<\/p>\n Lickey Hills:<\/strong><\/p>\n Revised proposals:<\/p>\n Sutton Park:<\/strong><\/p>\n Revised proposals:<\/p>\n Sheldon Country Park:<\/strong><\/p>\n Revised proposals:<\/p>\n![\"Autumn](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_JS222782833.jpg\")
Autumn leaves at Lickey Hills Country Park, Birmingham.(Image: Jacob King\/PA Wire)<\/p>\n![\"Birmingham](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767000862_276_2_JS323277289.jpg\")
Birmingham City Council House(Image: Nick Wilkinson\/Birmingham Live)<\/p>\n![\"Sheldon](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_JS116028626.jpg\")
Sheldon Country Park(Image: Birmingham Mail\/Iain Findlay)<\/p>\n\n
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