You can't park there! Hundreds of fines for inconsiderate motorists at stations

Since January, a total of 514 Penalty Charge Notices, each with a fine of £100, have been given out at Centro's six park and ride sites.

The majority of the fines - 230 in total - were issued at Stourbridge Junction.

But the numbers appear to be falling since an initial surge in January and February which saw 114 drivers penalised.

At Sandwell and Dudley rail station 184 fines have been handed out so far this year.

There were also 40 issued at Wednesbury Parkway, 31 at Rowley Regis, 20 at Coseley and nine at Wolverhampton Priestfield.

The aim of the fines is to clampdown on nuisance parking.

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

Sandwell councillor Roger Horton, Centro's lead member for rail and Midland Metro, said the PCN scheme had worked well since its introduction in September last year.

In its first week a total of 241 PCNs were issued.

For the same period this year it was 81.

He added: "Park and ride is a very popular scheme and results in many car parks being full by 8am.

"The PCN scheme had to be brought to control those selfish motorists who were parking without consideration for others because they couldn't get a space, resulting in other people being blocked in and obstructing access for other vehicles such as the emergency services.

"Motorists can play their part by giving themselves enough time to get a space then parking correctly, but they could also ask themselves if they really need to drive to the station at all as many people live less than a mile from the station and could catch the bus, cycle or walk, something which would not only benefit their health but free up spaces for those who really do need to drive."

This year several of the park and ride sites have seen their car parking capacity extended.

At Rowley Regis 360 new spaces have been created, boosting capacity to accommodate 742 cars.

A further 20 spaces have been added at Sandwell and Dudley and 10 at Coseley.

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.

All money raised from the fines - which are reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days - goes towards the costs of running the enforcement scheme.