West Bromwich East MP, Nicola Richards, has collected hundreds of names in a petition against proposals that would see car parking charges in West Bromwich set at double that of anywhere else in Sandwell.

464 residents have signed the petition, calling on Sandwell Council to scrap the planned rise of car parking charges.

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.

All other parking charges in West Bromwich, including both long stay and short stay car parks, would also be twice as much as other towns in Sandwell, such as Oldbury and Smethwick. Nicola said:

“There is absolutely no need to hit hard working people who live and work in West Bromwich with a drastic increase in charges.

“There is even less reason to target those people specifically by setting charges in our town twice as high as anywhere else in the borough. It’s almost as if they don’t want anyone to visit West Bromwich.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has signed my petition, demonstrating that local people are opposed to this car tax on working people in our town.

“It is now up to the council to show that they are listening to the concerns of my constituents and reverse this damaging proposal.”

The petition has been submitted to the Leader of Sandwell Council, Cllr Kerrie Carmichael. A consultation on the proposed increases ended on 30th September 2022, and a decision is expected to be made in November.