Parking charges coming to congested New Cross Hospital streets

Neighbours have endured years of misery as people clog up their streets with vehicles even obstructing them from parking outside their homes.

Now Wolverhampton council has approved 110 pay and display bays.

They will be brought in along New Cross Avenue, Graiseley Lane and in Wolverhampton Road near its junctions with Coronation Road and outside the Village Inn.

There will also be 59 permit holder only spaces in Coronation Road, Okement Road and several stretches of Graiseley Lane.

Vehicles will be prohibited from waiting at any time on large parts of Wolverhampton Road, Coronation Road, New Cross Avenue, Okement Drive and Graiseley Lane.

The permit and pay and display restrictions will be in force between 7am and 8pm starting in the autumn.

Objections were made by the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, opposing pay and display parking and waiting restrictions in Wolverhampton Road and New Cross Avenue.

The trust raised concerns about the impact on staff and fears more cars would be forced to use the congested hospital site.

A ‘compromise’ was offered whereby hospital staff could buy permits for use of new pay and display bays.

The trust rejected the council’s offer – but the authority has decided to push ahead.

Councillor Steve Evans, Cabinet Member for City Environment, said: “For many years Heath Town residents and businesses in close proximity to New Cross Hospital have been severely affected by the parking associated with the hospital.”

The pay and display parking charges are 15 minutes free, up to one hour priced at £1, £2 for up to two and £4 for up to four hours.

Residents will pay £20-a-year for a permit and £5 for parking vouchers for visitors.

Currently it is free to park at New Cross for 15 minutes, £2.40 for one hour, £3.40 for three hours and £4.80 for five hours.