DUDLEY’S new MP Sonia Kumar has voiced concerns about the scrapping of free parking across the borough in Parliament.

The Labour MP, who was elected at the July General Election, highlighted how the changes brought in by Dudley Council are impacting on businesses, students and leisure centre users and called for a debate in the House of Commons on town centres can be supported.

Speaking in the Commons last week, she said: “Can the leader of the house allow a debate in government time about how we support town centres and properly consider the potential negative impact on economic activity, community well-being caused by the hiking of parking charges.”

New charges, brought in to help raise funds for cash-strapped Dudley Council, came in to force on October 1 and mean motorists can no longer enjoy two hours of free parking on council-owned car parks as they had for the last few years.

Ms Kumar, a member of the Business and Trade Committee, has asked residents and traders in Dudley concerned about the charges to share their views on an online form https://forms.gle/wntUC25k7YorgQ8X8

She also told the News: “It’s not right that local residents have to pay increased prices and are asked to plug the hole in council finances. I don’t believe this will cover the costs for what Dudley Council needs and the social value is vitally important.

“These car parking hikes will reduce footfall into our high street and create a barrier for students using the college and users of the leisure centre.

“I have shared this in Parliament and raised it with Patrick Harley, the leader of the council, and will continue to speak up for the people of Dudley.”

The MP has said with the cost-of-living crisis, the hike in parking charges could not have come at a worse time for traders struggling to make a living – competing against online shopping and high rent costs.

Dudley Council's leader Councillor Patrick Harley previously told the News that decisions on parking charges had already been agreed by cabinet and full council as "the council needs to make as much revenue as possible" given the dire financial picture.

That didn't stop protestors taking to the steps of Dudley Council House, however, on Monday (October 21) ahead of a debate in the council chamber triggered by the handing in of a petition, which has now garnered 11,739 signatures, calling for a U-turn on the charges.

Speaking at the meeting, Conservative councillor Bex Collins said: “It is clear there is a yearning for alternatives to what has been agreed; however, the reality of our financial situation dictates such action is not remotely possible at this time.”

Campaigners, however, argued that traders and members of the public had not been consulted about the changes to car park charges which many people fear will kill trade in the borough's town centres.

Stourbridge Labour MP Cat Eccles has also raised concerns about the charges and said in a Facebook post on Tuesday: "Since the changes were brought in, traders have seen significant reduction in footfall based on year on year data of up to 40 per cent."

She said she'd written to Cllr Harley to highlight the concerns of traders and added that she would be meeting with the council this week to discuss the matter further.