Car parking charges at Sutton Coldfield Railway Station are set to rise dramatically from August 17, with daily fees for rail ticket holders jumping from 65p to £3 on weekdays, and to £2 at weekends and Bank Holidays. The increase, which represents a more than fourfold rise for ticket holders and more than double for non-ticket holders, has sparked anger among train users, local businesses, and politicians.
New ANPR cameras and pay-on-exit system
Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), is installing automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras at the 337-space car park. The current pay-on-entry system, where motorists could park for free if the attendant was not present, will be replaced by a pay-on-exit model. Blue Badge holders can park for free by scanning their badge barcode at a machine, but all other users parking for more than 30 minutes must pay.
The changes also mean the longstanding parking attendant, who has worked at the station for 25 years, will be made redundant by the end of September, according to local reports. This has added to the controversy, with many expressing sympathy for the attendant.
Local business owner fears loss of customers
Alex Light, who runs the Folklore coffee and bagel shop on the Birmingham-bound platform at Sutton station, said the price increase and the loss of the attendant would harm his business. He said the changes were introduced 'with no consultation, with a week-and-a-half’s notice'.
Light said: 'There’s a massive disincentive now to come to the station and go elsewhere, which means there’s a massive disincentive to come to our business. We will be doing everything we can to fight this, because people should not be losing their jobs for no reason.'
Politicians condemn 'rip off' charges
Sutton Trinity city and town councillor David Pears (Cons.) called the price rise a 'rip off' and 'ridiculous'. He said: 'Rip off car parking charges at Sutton Coldfield Railway Station coming later this month. There has been no public consultation and I am supporting residents and train users by contacting officers accordingly.'
Wylde Green councillor Alex Yip (Cons.) has a petition against the proposal with more than 1,500 signatures. He expressed concern that similar charges could be introduced at other stations, such as Chester Road and Wylde Green, which could exacerbate street parking problems in his ward.
Sutton’s MP Andrew Mitchell (Cons.) blamed the Labour Party for the increase, saying they are 'obsessed with charging us for parking our own cars in Sutton - first it was in Sutton Park, now the railway station'. He has written to Richard Parker, the Mayor of the West Midlands, questioning the lack of consultation and the absence of a publicly available plan for improvements funded by the additional revenue.
Labour councillor also opposes increase
Even Sutton Labour town councillor Charlotte Fieldhouse has started her own petition, which has gathered more than 600 signatures. She said: 'The increase in parking charges and the removal of free parking for season ticket holders risks discouraging the use of rail travel altogether. For many, driving is becoming a more financially viable option, leading to increased road congestion and pollution in our community.'
Fieldhouse added: 'The lack of community consultation before these changes were implemented is a stark reminder of the disconnect between decision-makers and those who are affected by these decisions. We demand a reassessment of the parking charges with proper involvement from the community.'
TfWM defends the charges
A spokeswoman for TfWM defended the changes, stating: 'TfWM provides just over 9,500 parking spaces at 44 railway stations and five tram stops – the majority of which are free to use, funded from the transport levy element of council tax. The costs of operating and maintaining these, including the road surfaces, security cameras and lighting, continues to rise. At four of our busier sites, including Sutton Coldfield, charges are applied. The increase from £1.80 [sic, it is £1.30 at present] to £3 per day brings Sutton in line with the charges at the three other car parks and will be used to provide a well maintained and managed facility for commuters at a reasonable cost.'
The new charges come into effect on Monday, August 17, with the ANPR cameras already installed. Commuters are advised to prepare for the changes, which have been met with widespread opposition from the community.
