Motorists pay up £18k to park at Sandwell Valley beauty spot after fees introduced
Visitors to Sandwell Valley Country Park paid out more than £18,000 in the first three months since parking charges were introduced.
Controversial parking fees were brought in at the beauty spot for the first time in November.
Drivers now have to pay from 40p for an hour up to £2 for more than four hours. Those who don't pay face fines of £50.
Since charges were introduced, at total of £18,326 has been generated from the pay machines.
Sandwell Council bosses said all the cash would be invested back into maintaining the site.
The authority came under fire when it was announced last year people would be made to pay for the first time. Parking had previously always been free.
Hundreds signed a petition against the plans claiming it would affect visitor numbers at the beauty spot.
But the amount generated from parking suggests there are many people who have been willing to pay. Around 200,000 cars park at the site each year.
Charges were brought in at car parks across the site, at Lodge Hill Road, Swan Pool and Forge Mill Farm Visitor Centre daily between 9am and 6pm.
Blue badge holders can still park for free. A 12-month parking pass is available for £40.
Councillor David Hosell, environment and roads boss at Sandwell Council, said: "Since it was introduced, pay and display car parking at Sandwell Valley has generated £18,326 – this will help us cover the costs of setting it up and maintaining it.
"Any additional revenues will be channelled back into improvements to Sandwell Valley, which will benefit visitors to the country park."
Chiefs at the cash-strapped authority argued they could no longer afford to pay for the upkeep of the site, including maintenance of the car parks at Sandwell Valley due to huge cuts to its budget, and refused to back down over the issue.
The council needs to save £20 million over the next three years and bosses said they needed to prioritise other services.
