THE introduction of parking charges could severely damage trade in Halesowen according to campaigners and town centre traders.

Dudley Council has announced new charges for the first two hours and a hike in prices for longer stays despite growing opposition to the plan.

A petition against the charges on change.org has already gathered more than 2,000 signatures opposing the first phase of the authority’s new parking strategy.

Local resident Phil Rose, who is leading calls to scrap the charges, said: “The impact on the town will be astronomical, a lot of traders are independent and hanging on by their fingertips, this will be another nail in the coffin.”

Charges across Dudley borough starting at £1.20 for an hour will come into force in October and are expected to raise around £3.5m for the cash-strapped council.

Councillor Damian Corfield, Dudley cabinet member for highways and environmental services, said: “As a council we have set a target to deliver nearly £40 million worth of savings over the next three years to balance our books. This will go some way towards that and help to protect our critical front-line services.

“Beyond that we hope it will help to fund improvements to our car parks, roads and infrastructure, and ease congestion in our town centres.”

Traders in Halesowen are worried the charges will push people to out-of-town centres or supermarkets where parking is free.

Karen Jones, manager of the Blue Cross charity shop in Hagley Street, said: “It is scandalous, we want people to come shopping in this town – not drive them away.

“No one was consulted, I have had people say when they start charging they won’t come into Halesowen because they are not going to pay to come and look around for a short amount of time – it’s not worth it, they will do their shopping at Asda and go home.

“We are just treated as cash cows – any little bit of money they can get out of people, they will get it out of them.”

Tracey Hegenbarth from Lola\'s Loft in Halesowen fears parking charges could cause businesses to fail(Image: Tracey Hegenbarth from Lola's Loft in Halesowen fears parking charges could cause businesses to fail) Pic by Martyn Smith

Tracey Hegenbarth at Lola’s Loft on High Street in Halesowen says there was no consultation with traders and charges could threaten the future of small businesses.

She said: “Little shops like us are not going to be able to survive, people feel let down and abandoned, it was underhand and sneaky.

“Ninety percent of people who signed my petition didn’t know about it.

“The car park by the church is in a right state and they want us to pay £1.20 to park there for an hour, I wouldn’t park my dog there.”

Dave Dancer, from Dancer’s on Peckingham Street, who volunteers to carry out litter picking, watering plants and for street watch in the town centre, said: “It will decrease footfall in our town which is struggling already, I feel like it is a bit of a kick in the teeth.”

Mr Rose has a message for council leaders, he said: “Speak to the people about their fears and worries, all you have done is put in parking bays with a price on in the hope you will get revenue out of it.

“Long term you will turn round and you will have decimated a town.”  Cllr Corfield added: “Of course we know that not everyone will welcome proposals to increase parking charges. But hopefully people can understand the reasons behind them.”

Campaigners have organised a meeting to discuss the introduction of charges on Wednesday, September 11 at Benjamin’s on Birmingham Street in Halesowen at 6pm.