Parking charges at Sutton Coldfield Railway Station that more than doubled to £3 per day will be reversed to the original £1.30 rate from 2 September, following a political dispute over who authorised the increase. The decision, confirmed by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) on 20 August, comes just two weeks after the new charges took effect on 17 August.
Charge hike sparked backlash from politicians and businesses
BirminghamLive reported earlier in August that the daily charge at the station car park was set to rise from £1.30 to £3. For those with a railway ticket, parking was offered at half price (65p), effectively more than quadrupling the previous rate for some users. The car park also introduced automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, meaning all users would now be charged 24/7, whereas previously those parking when the attendant was absent could park for free.
Businessman Alex Light, who runs the Folklore café on the Birmingham-bound side of Sutton station, criticised the increase, saying it would drive customers away — either to other stations or to use cars instead of trains. Local Conservatives and Labour representatives, along with members of the public, voiced anger over the hike.
Political blame game over who approved the increase
Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield Andrew Mitchell blamed Labour for the charges, writing in his weekly newsletter on 7 August: “The Labour Party seem to be obsessed with charging us for parking our own cars in Sutton - first it was in Sutton Park, now the railway station.” Councillor Alex Yip (Sutton Wylde Green, Conservative) said he was dismayed by charges “imposed by the Labour mayor of the WMCA - without consultation”.
However, Sutton Vesey town councillor Charlotte Fieldhouse (Labour) said she spoke to Labour Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker, who heads the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), and he was “shocked to discover that parking charges at Sutton Coldfield Station were being increased to £3 a day, and has agreed to look into it”. She stated the decision was made under the “previous Conservative administration”.
BirminghamLive obtained documents from the TfWM Strategic Operations & Customer Experience Board showing the decision was proposed in March 2023 and “approved in principle, once budget funding source was identified” in May 2023. TfWM confirmed on 20 August that the initial decision predated Mayor Parker’s tenure, which began in May 2024. No explanation was given for the three-year delay in implementation.
Charges reversed but ANPR cameras and all-day payment remain
A TfWM spokesman said: “The decision to introduce ANPR and increase parking charges at Sutton Coldfield railway station was originally approved by the Strategic Operations and Customer Experience Board in 2023. The Mayor raised concerns over the charges and a further review has been undertaken. As a result, these charges will be reversed from 2nd September, reducing the cost to £1.30. We are currently working with the parking contractor to extend free parking to season ticket holders and will confirm further details in the coming weeks.”
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker added: “This decision predates me, and was taken before I became Mayor - under the previous administration. But what happens now is absolutely my responsibility. When these changes were brought to my attention last week, I asked the team to explain the rationale and decision-making timeline behind them. I understand the case for replacing the old payment system and bringing the car park into line with others across the region. But I want to be very clear, that I don’t think passengers should be asked to pay significantly more as a result. At a time when we want more people to use public transport, it makes little sense to increase the cost of choosing the train. I’m particularly concerned that people who have already committed to rail through a season ticket would lose their free parking. So I have instructed TfWM not to increase the parking charges at Sutton Coldfield station. I have also asked them to find a way to protect free parking for season ticket holders.”
The ANPR cameras and all-day charging (Monday to Sunday) will remain in place, but the daily rate will revert to £1.30 from 2 September. Season ticket holders are expected to be able to park for free within weeks, pending further details from TfWM.
