You still have a chance to comment on proposals to introduce parking charges at Lickey Hills and Woodgate Valley Country Parks.Â
The online consultation by Birmingham City Council is open for comments until Sunday 4th December.Â
Citing increasing budget demands, BCC are looking to follow the lead of many other local authorities by introducing parking charges.
Each park’s revenue will be ring fenced to benefit maintenance and development of the site, freeing up other funds.
District Park Managers have identified the following wish lists for investment:
Lickey Hills
- Re-opening or ongoing repair of areas which the Park Rangers feel are essential but are struggling due to lack of funds, e.g. where we have had to remove bridges and steps due to lack of funds for ongoing maintenance.
- Disabled access route at main site.
- Conservation of heritage features which we do not have an existing revenue budget
for – toposcope at Beacon Hill, sculpture trail etc.
- Improvements to land management practices, as recommended by the Park Rangers and as per the management plan.
- Future investment in maintaining key infrastructure assets – the Visitor Centre, the car parks, the play area, accesses and ways, fencing, litter bins etc.
Woodgate ValleyÂ
- Improve access around the site
- Grazing field fencing and boundary security improvements including anti-scramble measures
- Improvements to grass pitches
- Refurbishment of Visitor Centre including roof
- Upgrade site furniture throughout the site
- Improve signposting throughout the site.
Proposed Charges
Proposed charges range from 50p for one hour to £3.30 for a whole day. Season passes will be available and Blue Badge holders will continue to be able to park free of charge.
Parks affected
Currently, BCC are consulting on proposed charges at Lickey Hills, Woodgate Valley and Sheldon Country Parks. Further consultation into charges at Sutton Park and Rectory Park will take place next year.
Have Your Say
To read full details and submit your comments, visit the following links before Sunday 4th December 2022:
This is really unfair. Our gree spaces are supposed to be free. Many people are struggling to afford the basics and now you want to take the little opportunity people have to enjoy the freedom of having free activities they can do with their families. This is totally barbaric and unfair. Many of these locations have limited bus services to as well.
This needs to stop!!! Everywhere we go now it costs money and with the considerations of household budgets this is in excusable.
Children and families deserve to be able to go to open spaces without the worry can I actually afford to go. This needs to be re thought. As I am totally against this.