A significant increase in parking charges at Sutton Coldfield Railway Station has been reversed following a political dispute over who authorised the hike. Earlier this month, BirminghamLive reported plans to raise daily parking fees at the station from £1.30 to £3. For rail ticket holders entitled to a half-price concession, the fee was set to rise from £1.30 to £1.65, effectively more than doubling and even quadrupling in some cases.
Alongside the price increase, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras were introduced. Previously, users could park free of charge when the attendant was absent, but under the new system, all users would be required to pay the increased fees regardless of attendant presence. The changes came into force on Monday, 17 August.
The increases provoked backlash from local Conservative and Labour representatives, businesses, and members of the public. Alex Light, owner of the Folklore café located near the station’s Birmingham-bound platform, criticised the rise, warning it might deter customers who might choose to park at other stations or avoid using the train altogether.
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Both political parties petitioned the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and its transport body, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which manages the car park, to reconsider the charges. On Thursday, 20 August, it was confirmed that while the ANPR cameras and all-day charging system would remain, the parking fee would revert to £1.30 per day from Wednesday, 2 September.
Additionally, BirminghamLive has been informed that holders of railway season tickets will soon be able to park free of charge through a forthcoming concession.
The debate over responsibility for the original increase has been contentious. Conservative figures, including Sutton Coldfield’s MP Andrew Mitchell, have blamed the Labour Party. In his newsletter dated 7 August, Mitchell stated: “The Labour Party seem to be obsessed with charging us for parking our own cars in Sutton-first it was in Sutton Park, now the railway station.” Conservative councillor Alex Yip also condemned the new charges, describing them as imposed by the Labour Mayor of the WMCA without consultation.
Meanwhile, Sutton Vesey Labour councillor Charlotte Fieldhouse said the Labour Mayor, Richard Parker, expressed surprise upon learning about the increase and promised to investigate. She attributed the decision to the previous Conservative administration.
Documents from the Transport for West Midlands Strategic Operations and Customer Experience Board indicate that the charge increase was proposed in March 2023 and approved in principle in May 2023, pending budget approval. TfWM confirmed on 20 August that the initial decision predated Mayor Parker’s tenure, but no explanation was provided as to why implementation took until August 2026.
A TfWM spokesperson stated: “The decision to introduce ANPR and increase parking charges at Sutton Coldfield railway station was originally approved by the Strategic Operations and Customer Experience Board in 2023. The Mayor raised concerns over the charges and a further review has been undertaken. As a result, these charges will be reversed from 2nd September, reducing the cost to £1.30. We are currently working with the parking contractor to extend free parking to season ticket holders and will confirm further details in the coming weeks.”
Mayor Richard Parker commented: “This decision predates me and was taken before I became Mayor-under the previous administration. But what happens now is absolutely my responsibility. When these changes were brought to my attention last week, I asked the team to explain the rationale and decision-making timeline behind them. I understand the case for replacing the old payment system and bringing the car park into line with others across the region. But I want to be very clear that I don’t think passengers should be asked to pay significantly more as a result. At a time when we want more people to use public transport, it makes little sense to increase the cost of choosing the train. I’m particularly concerned that people who have already committed to rail through a season ticket would lose their free parking. So I have instructed TfWM not to increase the parking charges at Sutton Coldfield station. I have also asked them to find a way to protect free parking for season ticket holders.”