Parking changes ahead for visitors to Sandwell Valley

Sandwell Council wants to introduce 'no waiting' restrictions along the nearby Salters Lane in West Bromwich on Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays between 10am and 6pm.

It comes six months after the council approved fees to the park's car parks despite heavy opposition.

To avoid the fees, which start at 40p an hour, it is believed people have been parking in Salters Lane.

Council bosses say the new proposals will prevent 'obstructive parking and improve traffic flow' after 'parking problems were brought to the council's attention'.

Councillor David Hosell, cabinet member for highways and environment, said that the traffic regulation order would be there for the 'benefit' of the people.

He explained: "The road can be very dangerous and we feel that this will help ease the congestion and any obstructive parking outside of houses.

"It will be for the benefit of the people using that road ultimately.

"People will always look for other ways to save money by parking there to possibly avoid the charges at the park and you can't blame them for that.

"But this traffic regulation order is to purely been to help the free flow traffic."

One objection against the 'no waiting' parking plan was received by a resident stating claims that 'family, visitors, tradesmen or deliveries would no longer be able to park outside the property during the restricted times'.

The objection was reported to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Environment at the meeting held in September last year. At the time the decision was deferred pending a site visit.

A decision will be made at Highways and Environment Decision Making Session at Sandwell Council tomorrow evening.

The parking charges at the beauty spot were approved in January, but have not yet come into force.

The council said the decision to introduce fees made in the wake of the authority needing to make £40 million cuts in the next two years.

Last month cabinet amended paid for parking charges at Sandwell Valley during the winter months from October to March to only apply from 9am to 3pm.

Charges were also discounted for regular users. Around 200,000 cars park at the popular site each year.