Anger as commuters' cars clog up streets
A 'massive problem' with congestion at a railway station car park has prompted community leaders to call for improvements.
Residents are angered by commuters using Cradley Heath Railway Station who park in neighbouring streets, clogging them up.
According to ward councillors, their efforts to get extra spaces to help ease the problem have fallen on deaf ears at transport authority Centro.
Speaking at a council meeting this week, Councillor Anne Shackleton said: "Parking at Cradley Heath station is a massive problem.
"Residents are really affected on a daily basis and the three ward councillors spend a considerable amount of our time addressing the issues created. I counted 104 vehicles parked in an area opposite the station where they pay £2 a day.
"If that land – which we believe will soon by developed for housing – isn't used I don't know where we will be in relation to car parking issues at the station."
Councillor Shackleton claimed that Centro had refused to buy a new car park which would have helped ease the congestion.
Council leader Councillor Darren Cooper promised to take up the matter with the integrated transport authority. He said: "I know parking has been a problem in and around that area."
Cradley Heath and Old Hill ward Councillor John Tipper said: "The station is well used which is obviously good but there's just not enough parking there to deal with the number of cars. The sheer amount of cars sometimes causes practical issues with congestion and at other times it irritates residents to see so many cars in the streets.
"Over the past three years we've encouraged Centro to look at ways of expanding the car parking that's available, including using the former council car park in High Street." Centro spokesman Mark Langford said any future use of the car park owned by Sandwell Council would be a matter for the authority to consider.
"Park and Ride at Cradley Heath has 231 spaces and, like other stations offering this facility, is extremely popular and fills up quickly which is why we advise people wanting to use it to give themselves enough time to get a space," he added. "Similarly we would urge anyone unable to get a space to park responsibly and with consideration for neighbouring residents and businesses. Research has shown many users live within 800m of a Park and Ride yet still choose to drive when there are alternatives such as cycling, walking or the bus, and we would encourage these people to perhaps consider using one of those and help ease demand."
