A COUNCILLOR says removing evening car parking charges could cost Lichfield District Council more than £80,000 a year.
The local authority this week opted to reverse a 2024 decision to introduce fees at city centre car parks it manages after 6.30pm.
Cllr Phil Whitehouse, cabinet member for operational services, parks and waste, said the move would give “a welcome boost” to local businesses and visitors.
But Cllr Steve Norman, chair of Lichfield District Council’s overview and scrutiny committee, said the decision would have a financial impact.
“The cabinet member’s decision – it has not been discussed at council or at cabinet – means that the likely income that will be lost for the rest of this financial year will be about £35,000.
“In 2024-25, evening parking charges generated £81,913 of income, so the scrutiny committee will need look at the consequence for the council’s budget at its next meeting in January.
“We will also have some idea of the effect of the decision on the city by then which will be useful.”
Cllr Norman also urged drivers to ensure they were using car parks covered by free parking rather than privately-operated ones.
He said:
“Gresley Row and Backester Lane car parks are not operated by Lichfield District Council, but by Three Spires Shopping Centre so I fear some drivers may get caught, as some did when the district council ceased to be the operator for the Gresley Row car park.”
Why not look at this as a common sense measure to help all local business’s?
£85K is “a few peanuts” for all the potential benefits
Members will want to see how the £35,000 loss in income will affect this year’s budget and the future annual loss of almost £80,000 next year. That is the role of the Scrutiny Committee and we will be considering the council’s finances at our January meeting.
The Cabinet Member responsible for High Street & Economic Development on Facebook says I am criticising this new policy of free car parking but as Lichfield Live has accurately reported my comments it would be courteous for him to quote where I say that – here or at Full Council in a couple of weeks time.
I am concerned that no proper process appears to have been followed – even a Cabinet Member has to operate within our Constitution. I think It is worth noting that the Council issued a “Notice of proposed decision” at 9pm last night – the day AFTER I asked for the financial information and states that the decision is due on 10 Feb 2026.
Another Labour councillor who wants to stop growth, support local business and penalise the users. Like the national party he represents if someone else has a Great initiative they try and score political points.
How much did demolishing the multi-storey cost the Council? I’m sure I read something around £700,000 in a Lichfield Live article. That plus the loss of revenue from that car park (in the hundreds of thousands per year) and the loss of business for shops and the theatre surely put the loss of revenue from evening parking charges into the shade. Both Tory and Labour councillors supported that mind-boggling decision.
As well as abolishing evening parking charges, the Council should also reconsider the massive increase in short-term parking charges they introduced last year. These charges are strangling Lichfield.
No such thing as pre decision scrutiny. You are on the wrong side of the people with this Norman. Look at all the up thumbs Flossy has got. Just listen to yourself blathering on about process with not a concern in the world about the benefits to businesses during a cost of living crisis, caused by your government. Well done to LDC acting swiftly to help visitors and businesses alike. Meanwhile all Labour want to do is take money off you.
The cost of living crisis is caused by austerity, a Tory policy. Brexit, a Tory policy. The shameful mishandling of Covid by a Tory PM. Please explain, showing your working, how those Tory mistakes are somehow Labour’s fault.
If RFW is having problems I suggest cutting down on fancy coffees and avocado on toast. Cancelling the Netflix subscription will also help.