Pay-to-park scheme at new centre is revealed

The 104 space car park at the £11 million leisure centre in West Bromwich will be pay and display and controlled parking zones will operate in surrounding streets.

Those who use the leisure centre will be reimbursed, but demand for spaces is expected to exceed supply during peak times.

Parking is already a big problem in the Moor Street area following the opening of the £10m West Bromwich police station.

Residents claim they often cannot find a space near their homes due to police staff using up all the on street parking.

In planning documents submitted to Sandwell Council by DC Leisure, who are going to build and run the centre on the corner of Barton Street and Moor Street, state they will contribute £10,000 towards a new proposed controlled parking zone. This would include a residents only parking scheme and they also plan to introduce a 20 miles per hour speed limit.

It states: "The roads to be controlled are Richard Street South and Barton Street as well as Oak Road between Bowater Street and Cambridge Street."

Neighbourhoods boss Councillor Ian Jones said: "I think an 100 space car park is going to be sufficient for the centre."