Wolverhampton car park charges shoot up as council seeks savings
Car parking charges have shot up across Wolverhampton city centre as council chiefs try and make £54 million in savings.
Shoppers, workers and visitors are all having to dig deeper as the price rise of up to 33 per cent increase comes into force.
But business leaders have called on the city council to beware of the effect of the rise – which is well over the 2.7 per cent rate of inflation.
All-day parking at 93-space Oxford Street and 123-space Church Lane has gone up from £1.50 to £2. While at the 196-space Faulkland Street, the cost of parking up to four hours has gone up from £2.50 to £3.
Parking increases have also come in at the 183-space Peel Street, rising from £3.50 to £4.50 for over four hours. An approved price increase at the 213-space Broad Street, rising from £4.50 for over four hours to £5, is yet to be implemented.
Seasonal parking permits across the city are also set to increase, including at the 330-space car park at the Civic Centre.
There are 13 city centre car parks altogether, hourly rates have not gone up at the others.
Councillor Andrew Johnson, cabinet member for resources, said charges were reviewed annually and the authority needs to save £54m over the next three years.
He said: “The money received from the parking charges is ploughed back in to the service to pay for costs such as maintenance.
“It is a mixture of keeping car parking charges reasonable while competing with neighbouring areas and trying to balance the financial books. It is very much a commercial judgement, while at the same time we want to offer a public service at a reasonable price.”
However President of Wolverhampton Business Group Henry Carver said: “In the past they have listened to businesses and that is welcomed. But we want that to continue given the fact the city centre is not currently in a strong position at the moment.”
Councillor Johnson said he believed the city was sufficiently served by public and private car parks.
He added: “We keep having reviews of the provision.
“It is a mix of private and public provision. We attempt to ensure enough parking spaces are in the city to meet the demand.”
The price increase is way above the current 2.7 per cent rate of inflation and comes five years after the council provided free evening parking at some of its car parks following calls from traders.
