Hundreds fined over bad parking at Black Country stations

Centro introduced penalties to clampdown on nuisance parking at its park and ride sites last year.

Since the start of December, a total of 407 fines of £100 have been given out to commuters and passengers.

Of these, 202 were handed out at Stourbridge Junction and 128 at Sandwell and Dudley.

There were also 30 issued at Wednesbury Parkway, 28 at Rowley Regis, 13 at Coseley and six at Wolverhampton Priestfield.

Centro decided to take action after complaints about cars obstructing other motorists and forcing pedestrians to walk in the road at stations.

• Stourbridge Junction - 202

• Sandwell and Dudley - 128

• Wednesbury Parkway - 30

• Rowley Regis - 28

• Coseley - 13

• Wolverhampton Priestfield - 6

Transport bosses say the scheme is proving successful as the number of fines given out is falling each week. They are reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.

Centro spokesman Mark Langford said: "While parking notices continue to be issued their numbers are considerably lower than when the scheme was introduced.

"We are glad the campaign continues to have the desired effect by making people think about parking more considerately."

Meanwhile the park and ride car park at Cradley Heath Railway Station will be closed on Sunday as part of revamp work.

It will be shut for 24 hours for white lines to be painted on the bays.

Vehicles cannot be left in any of the 260 spaces or on the service road overnight on Saturday.

Earlier this year, work on a 900,000 extension to the car park at Stourbridge Junction railway station was completed.

An extra 223 spaces have been created, bringing the number to more than 1,000. The extension followed complaints from passengers about a shortage of spaces at the park and ride site, off Brook Road, Oldswinford.

Bosses said the main car park, off Chawn Hill, often fills up before the end of the morning rush hour.

The new spaces were created on a site located between the Birmingham and Worcester rail track and industrial units on Rufford Road.

As well as the new spaces, a covered walkway for customers was built. CCTV cameras and lights were also installed as well as a Help Point facility linked to the Network Safety and Security Centre.

All money raised from the fines goes towards the costs of running the enforcement scheme.

Centro and its partners have invested more than £15 million in Park and Ride facilities since 1997 to provide 7,718 free spaces within 59 car parks at 38 rail stations and three Metro tram stops across the region.