West Bromwich East MP, Nicola Richards, has written to the Leader of Sandwell Council to ask her to reconsider a proposed hike in car parking charges described as ‘car tax’

Sandwell Council are proposing a 233% increase in car park season tickets in West Bromwich, from £240 to £800, whereas other parts of the borough will only have their charges increased to £400.

West Bromwich’s new season ticket prices will also be higher than those in neighbouring Dudley and Walsall, who charge £460 and £660 respectively. It is also proposed to increase these charges by £100 per year over the next five years. If implemented, a season ticket for West Bromwich car parks will cost £1200 by 2027.

Season tickets are commonly purchased by people who work in town centres, allowing them to use council owned car parks during the week for longer periods of time.

In her letter to Cllr Kerrie Carmichael, Nicola Richards called the price increases ‘a car tax which will be levied upon hard working people who rely on their cars to get to work each day’. If the price hikes go ahead, all parking charges in West Bromwich will be double that of any other town in Sandwell. Nicola said:

“Why is it that our town, and those who live and work there, should have to pay so much more than those in Oldbury or Smethwick?”

She has called for the council to reconsider the dramatic price hikes for West Bromwich car parks and bring them in line with the rest of Sandwell. Nicola urged local residents to respond to Sandwell Council’s consultation on the proposed new charges by the closing date of 30th September 2022.

Members of the public can submit their objections by email.