PLANS to charge for parking at Lickey Hills Country Park have been scrapped by Birmingham City Council.
The decision was announced yesterday (Tuesday) at the latest full council meeting.
An consultation which ended last month was held to gauge public opinion and the views of interested parties.
The car parks where charges would have been introduced included the one at Warren Lane, near the Visitor Centre, Beacon Hill, off Monument Lane, and the one off Rose Hill, serving the Old Rose and Crown Hotel and golf course.
Beacon Hill and Rose Hill car parks had been identified as having safety concerns and are in need of major investment.
But yesterday, it was announced the plans would no longer go ahead with several reasons cited, including the impact on already financially burdened residents during the cost-of-living crisis.
As well as the responses provided through the consultation, a number of petitions were also submitted against the car parking charges at the Lickeys and other parks, including Woodgate Valley Country Park.
Northfield MP Gary Sambrook, who said he had campaigned with Conservative councillors for several months to stop what he called ‘ridiculous’ parking charges, welcomed the decision.
Coun Kerry Brewer and Coun Bruce Lines said: “ It’s fantastic to hear that the hundreds of signatures collected in our petitions on parking charges at local country parks have made a real difference.
“We were thrilled to submit these petitions at the last full council.
“These parks belong to the people of Birmingham and maintaining access to these green spaces is vital.
“Green spaces are not only necessary for leisure, but for our mental and physical health.”
They called on the city council to reopen the visitor centres at the country parks so they could be used by residents as the local community hubs they were created to be.
“We know really value the service provided by the visitors centre and park rangers.”
