Plans by Birmingham City Council to introduce car parking charges at some of the city’s largest parks have been criticised as being at odds with its own planning documents, which emphasise free and fair access to green space.
The council launched consultations earlier this month on proposed charges at Sutton Park, Lickey Hills Country Park, and Sheldon Country Park. If approved, drivers would pay £1 per hour (up to four hours) or £5 for a day ticket, with an annual permit set at £52. A 30-minute grace period would apply, and charges would be enforced daily from 9am to 6pm.
The council says the move is necessary to help fund maintenance across its 660 parks and green spaces, upgrading car park surfaces, improving accessibility, and investing in biodiversity projects.
Concerns over access
But critics argue the charges will deter families, older people and those on lower incomes from visiting.
Two key planning documents – the Open Space Assessment (2022) and the draft Birmingham Local Plan (2024) – both highlight accessibility as central to the city’s green space strategy.
The Local Plan sets out a vision for a “healthy city with fair access to open space, sports and recreation facilities to support active healthy lifestyles”, while the Open Space Assessment stresses that parks should be easy to reach and inclusive.
Campaigners say introducing fees contradicts these aims.
“Parks are supposed to be free public assets. By charging for parking, the council risks creating barriers for the very communities who need these spaces most,” one local resident told the BBC.
Birmingham City Council, which is under significant financial strain after issuing a Section 114 notice last year, insists the proposals are part of wider measures agreed in the 2025/26 budget.
It says money raised will be reinvested to safeguard the long-term future of green spaces.
The consultations on charges at Sutton Park, Lickey Hills and Sheldon Country Park close at the end of August. If approved, they would mark the first time Birmingham has charged for parking at its country parks.
To read the proposals and submit your views visit: https://www.birminghambeheard.org.uk/