Dudley Council staff could be moved over parking row

Bosses are now looking at other venues following claims families and other park-lovers can't get to visit anymore.

Since 200 Dudley Council children's services staff were transferred to a park building last year campaigners have complained council workers are taking up all the parking spaces at the site.

Some cars have been vandalised in recent weeks as the row escalated.

Margot James, who is standing for re-election as Stourbridge MP, said the park was being 'monopolised' by council staff and becoming inaccessible to anyone who did not live within walking distance.

Council bosses have ruled out extending the car park, saying it would be too expensive.

Philip Tart, strategic director for resources and transformation at Dudley Council, said: "We recognise that parking at Mary Stevens Park has become an issue and we have been working closely with the local community to resolve it.

"We are trying to balance our responsibilities in terms of use of the buildings with car parking availability for park users.

As a result, we are currently looking at a number of options including reviewing which staff work from the council offices and alternative ways of working including off site.

"Once that review is complete we will be discussing the findings with the Ernest Stevens Trusts Management Committee.

"We did fully investigate the possibility of extending the car parks in the park, but the significant cost of the work and the detrimental effect on the park meant we could not pursue this proposal."

Stourbridge councillor Heather Rogers, who is also chairman of the Friends of Mary Stevens Park group, has been campaigning for a solution but said she wanted to see actions rather than just promises.

She said the workforce stationed in the park must be at least halved if the parking situation is to be solved.

"Unless they reduce it to 100 it obviously won't work because there are only 130 parking spaces," she said.

"I am pleased but we are not exactly there yet until they have finally made a decision.

"Until they have finally have somewhere to put the staff and move them out it is not going to help the public.

"It is going to have to be done soon because it is coming up to summer and more people will be wanting to come into the park.

"They have had letters from the public and they have got to do something about the parking issue because it's horrendous.

"The charity commission has said said if the staff monopolise the car park in the morning and members of the public come later in the day and have nowhere to park then that is unacceptable, and that is quite a strong word."