Residents and shopkeepers in Erdington say a proposed new parking permit scheme around the town centre will harm trade and create more problems than it will solve.

City council transport bosses are considering a new control parking zone around the town centre meaning that residents will need to buy special permits to park outside their own homes.

Meanwhile parking meters could be installed on the High Street and main shopping areas replacing the current one-hour free parking bays.

It is a further blow after the town centre lost the 300 space Hart Road car park to make way for a new leisure centre with just eight spaces for users. A proposed Sainsbury store, which would have included a 200 space car park, has also fallen through.

And residents are worried that there will be just 700 permits available for about 1,000 houses within the proposed zone - and many are two-car households. Meanwhile the area’s 300 businesses have been promised just 100 permits between them.

Erdington High Street

One person, who did not want to be named, said: “Where is everyone expected to go? It means that other areas outside the parking scheme can expect more cars parked on their area. This seems to be just a scheme for the council to collect more money off the people of Erdington.”

Town centre manager Tony Guest, who represents businesses in the area, added: “The scheme will mean that the town centre will see parking meters for the first time in Erdington. There will be meters in the side roads off the High Street as well as Sutton New Road and the central reservation there.

“We already have some evidence of the state of parking here; since the Hart Road car park closed, businesses at that end of the town centre have reported reduced footfall and trade.”

He added: I have been told by some of the retailers here who have had experiences of such schemes elsewhere and they appear to be not good for trade.”

Erdington MP Jack Dromey said: “The parking problems in the High Street is getting worse. Urgent action is necessary, but the council must let the local people have their say.”

Sutton New Road by High Street Erdington
Erdington Six Ways

He said that the developer who wants to put a block of flats, to be called Honeywell House, on the Sainsbury site, should match Sainsbury’s pledge of a 200 space car park.

Under the proposed scheme parking restrictions will operate from 8am to 6pm from Mondays to Saturdays.

The control zone would be an area bordered by Reservoir Road, the railway line, Summer Road, Station Road, Orphanage Road, Orchard Road, Edwards Road, Mason Road, High Street, Church Road, Trafalgar Road and Wood End Road.

People have until Monday, February 5 to comment on the proposals which can be found on the council’s consultation website.

A Birmingham City Council spokesman said: “As with any consultation, all responses will be considered carefully. Anyone wishing to have their say on these proposals is advised to take part in this consultation before the closing date, so that their voice can be heard.”

He added that any money raised by the parking scheme, after costs are covered, must by law be invested back into public transport or road improvements in the area.