Fury as parking charges to start

Parking charges are to be introduced in a Black Country town, despite a 10,000 signature petition against the move.

Furious residents and traders have vowed to appeal against the decision, claiming fees could cripple Wednesbury.

But approving the move yesterday Councillor Mahboob Hussain said it he had heard "no new arguments" to make him rethink the charges of between 20p-an-hour and £1 for all day.

Ward councillor Michael Middleton said: "This is outrageous, we won't let this happen, we will appeal."

People spoke out against the charges at a meeting held at Sandwell Council House in Oldbury yesterday. Christine Lambert, from Sime Foundry, in Stafford Street, said she feared the charges could prompt the business to move out of town.

But Councillor Hussain, chairman of the neighbourhoods and housing committee, said the 20p-an-hour charge was still the lowest in the country. "We are the last local authority to bring in these charges," he said.