Civils and stations

Park and ride expansion for the West Midlands

Centro is to expand its Park and Ride scheme at three railway stations, with £2m funding awarded as part of the Government Local Pinch Point Fund.

The project will enhance facilities at King’s Norton station in Birmingham, Four Oaks in Sutton Coldfield and Stourbridge Junction, under the Welsh Midlands Access to Growth Package, a £4m scheme to provide extra parking spaces, provision for car sharing bays, electric vehicle charging points and cycle hubs.

Centro spokesman Steve Swingler said: “This is great news for commuters who will now benefit from badly needed extra spaces at three more key rail stations.

“The West Midlands is pretty much unique in providing free parking at its rail stations and the success of our Park and Ride policy in combating congestion has clearly been recognised by the Government with this funding award.

“Research shows that the 6,500 free spaces at Centro’s 53 heavy rail and four Metro stop car parks take more than 53,000 cars journeys off our roads each week.

“However, it could be argued that Park and Ride has become a victim of its own success with many station car parks often full to capacity by the end of the morning rush hour. That’s why we have been steadily expanding facilities as and when funding becomes available.

“Later this year we will be extending Rowley Regis and building new park and ride facilities at Longbridge and Yardley Wood in Birmingham but this £2 million award means we can now bring forward expansion plans for Stourbridge, Kings Norton and Four Oaks.”

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