Pay-and-display 'cash cow' parking row as Wolverhampton council rakes in more than £6 million
Pay-and-display parking in Wolverhampton has been labelled a ‘cash cow’ – after it was revealed the council has raked in more than £6 million from machines since 2012.
Councillor Wendy Thompson said a lack of free parking in the city centre adds ‘insult to injury’ as drivers have to negotiate roadworks and avoid bus lanes.
Figures show that since 2012/13 the local authority has received £1,777,609 in income from street parking and £4,529,152 from people using car parks – bringing the overall total to £6,306,761. The council says the cash is pumped into running and maintaining machines.
Councillor Thompson, the city’s Conservative Party leader, said: “They are absolutely a cash cow. The council should be encouraging people to come into the city centre, not punishing them.
“Parking charges, roadworks and bus gate fines all add insult to injury for drivers looking to come into the city centre.
“When people think about coming into the city centre, if they know they’re going to have to pay, they’ll choose not to.”
Parking in the city has also been criticised by independent business owners, who say trade is down due to a lack of free spaces.
Mike Brookes, of One Way Music in Salop Street, said: “When it’s a choice between places like Merry Hill and Bentley Bridge that offer free parking and are always packed out with shoppers, or the city centre where you have to pay, it’s a no brainer.”
The council operates 48 on-street pay-and-display metres in the city centre. A total of 42 of them cost 60p per 20 minutes, with a maximum stay of two hours. The remaining six cost 60p per 40 minutes, with maximum stay of four hours.
The local authority also runs 15 car parks in the city centre. Charges at the Civic Centre range from up to two hours for £3 and £12.50 for more than six.
Councillor Steve Evans, cabinet member for city environment, said: “The council only operate 25 per cent of car parks in the city centre.
“Nobody expects to park for free in a city centre, but we believe we offer some of the best value parking anywhere.
“Car parks have to be maintained, litter-picked, lit and patrolled, which is paid for from income raised. The rest is invested back into services.”
