Call for free parking over Christmas in Birmingham

A motion being put forward at the next full Birmingham City Council meeting aims to address long term decline experienced by suburban shopping centres – made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The ideas are being put forward by the opposition Conservative group and will be debated and voted on at the council meeting on November 2.

The motion calls on the council to provide free parking in all council-owned car parks near to high streets.

It also says the authority should support Christmas markets, fund Christmas light displays and provide additional cleaning crews in suburban centres and high streets.

It says the council should lead a “shop local this Christmas” campaign across the city and work with Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) to “support and promote initiatives in their areas”.

And council-owned empty units should be made available at discounted rates for pop-up businesses, the group said.

The Conservative group says there has been a “lack of investment in the suburbs by the city council in favour of city centre developments”.

The call for free car parking comes after the adoption of the Birmingham transport plan which states demand for cars could be managed by altering the availability, pricing and restrictions at car parks.

Councillor Peter Fowler, who will propose the motion, said: “Harborne, like many communities across Birmingham, is lucky to have a high street full of small independent businesses.

“I know from speaking to owners that many have struggled through the last 18 months and tell us the council could be doing more, that is why I am proud to present this motion at the next council meeting and call on all councillors to back it.”

Councillor Darius Sandhu, seconding the motion, said “The city council needs to start prioritising local centres like Kingstanding Circle.

“They can do this in the short term by paying for Christmas lights and longer term by helping improve safety and helping create local hubs”.

Council leader Councillor Ian Ward has dismissed the ideas, and said the council works closely with BIDs and local centres all year round.

He said: “This is ‘back of an envelope’ stuff that will do very little to address the very real problems faced by high streets, not just in Birmingham, but across the UK.

“Local centres, high streets and parades are places where communities shop, socialise, live and work, which is why the council works closely with BIDs and local centres all year round to fund events and promotional campaigns that support high streets across Birmingham.

“We work with partners to support Christmas displays across the city, with new displays planned for nine additional locations this year.

“But this isn’t just about Christmas, high streets need supports throughout the year and the Chancellor has an opportunity in his budget to put forward a fairer scheme of taxation and give high streets the long term support and investment that they need.”

Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Jon Hunt said: “Anything to cheer the mood up over Christmas would be very much welcome.”