Free Christmas parking in Dudley but rise in charges looms
Shoppers across Dudley will be offered free parking over Christmas – amid fears charges could be increased in the future following a review by council bosses.
Dudley Council is on course to make £700,000 less than expected from parking fees over the next three years.
Money coming in from its car parks is one of the main spending pressures affecting the cash-strapped authority which must save £20 million by 2018.
Finance chiefs have revealed the authority expected to make almost a quarter of million less than budgeted for each year until then.
Bosses at the authority said that the £700,000 shortfall was due to a reduction in the number of parking spaces.
And they said the review would not only look at charging but also location, access, usage and future demand.
The review comes as the council announced it would offer free parking during the run up to Christmas.
Free parking will be offered all day on December 5, 12 and 19 in all of its car parks.
Bosses said they had taken the decision in an effort to boost trade in Brierley Hill, Dudley, Halesowen and Stourbridge as well as Sedgley and Kingswinford.
Free parking will also be offered after 4pm on Saturday November 21, 28 and December 5.
Currently, its costs motorists either 60p or 70p to park on council car parks in the borough for an hour and £1.20 or £1.40 for two hours. A stay of over three hours costs up to £3.50.
As a result of the review, the council aims to save £295,000 by 2018.
Cabinet member for environmental services councillor Hilary Bills said: "The council will be undertaking a review of the borough-wide parking strategy."
