Parking charges are set to return at Wyndley Leisure Centre in Sutton Coldfield after a period during which parking was free. The leisure centre, located on Clifton Road, boasts a large car park serving its swimming pool, gym, sports hall, outdoor pitches, and an on-site Costa Coffee.
Until recently, the car park barriers and ticket booth had been out of use, allowing free parking for all motorists, including those accessing nearby Sutton Park without using the leisure facilities. However, a new Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system is being introduced to manage parking more effectively.
Users of the swimming pools, leisure centre, or Costa Coffee will be able to register their vehicle registration numbers at tablets located inside the centre to receive four hours of free parking. Moreover, visitors can use the parking system multiple times in one day, by re-registering their vehicle to obtain an additional four hours of free parking each time.
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Wyndley Leisure Centre is now operated by the Birmingham Community Leisure Trust, a not-for-profit registered society that works in partnership with private company Serco Leisure, responsible for managing the city’s leisure centres.
An email sent to customers on 7 August provided an update on the car park management system, stating that installation of the new ANPR system would begin on 10 August, with work expected to last around four days. While the car park remains open during installation, visitors are asked to exercise caution around the contractors.
The system is set to go live on Tuesday 1 September, the day after the August Bank Holiday, aiming to improve the parking experience and ensure spaces are available for leisure centre users. Tablets for vehicle registration will be situated at both entrances of the centre, making it easy to claim the free parking entitlement.
Additionally, Serco has confirmed there will be a 10-minute drop-off and pick-up grace period. Although the ANPR system will operate 24 hours a day, the car park will not be accessible outside of the leisure centre’s opening hours.
Details regarding charges or penalties for failing to register vehicle details have not yet been announced. However, non-leisure centre users will be required to pay via an app.
Previously, the car park had a 30-minute grace period, with charges of 50p for two hours, £1 for four hours, and £1.50 for over four hours, and a £3 fee for lost tickets. The main gates were locked outside centre hours, which previously allowed free parking for facility users.
Andrew Taylor, Deputy Contract Manager for Birmingham Community Leisure Trust, commented: “We are introducing Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology at Wyndley Leisure Centre, which will give customers four hours of free parking while they’re using the facility.
“The new system launches on September 1st, and will simply involve registering your car’s registration number via tablets, which will be available in each reception area at the centre.
“The introduction of ANPR technology is our way of prioritising the parking needs of the people who use this very popular community hub.”
This change follows recent increased parking charges and public reaction at Sutton Coldfield Railway Station. Sutton Trinity councillor David Pears (Conservative) indicated that the decision to reintroduce parking charges at Wyndley Leisure Centre was, in part, a response to potential charges being considered for parking in Sutton Park.
Meanwhile, Birmingham City Council continues to explore traffic regulation orders, including yellow lines near the centre, to manage parking outside residential streets adjacent to the leisure centre. However, no final decisions on wider parking infrastructure changes have been made to date.