Permit-only parking plans launched near QE Hospital

National World - LocalTV

Birmingham City Council is consulting on plans to introduce a residents-only parking scheme on roads near the University of Birmingham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, amid growing safety concerns and pressure on local streets.

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00:00If you've tried to park near the Queen Elizabeth Hospital or the University of Birmingham,

00:05you'll know it's a battlefield. But for the people who live there, it's not just inconvenient,

00:11it's becoming unmanageable. A new council consultation lists 16 roads earmarked for

00:17a residence-only permit scheme, running 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday. Outside of those hours,

00:24anyone can park but during the day, only vehicles with a resident or visitor permit would be allowed to stay.

00:32The council says the area has seen rapid expansion, a growing university, a sprawling hospital and new

00:38housing developments have piled more pressure on local streets. And with private driveways in short

00:44supply, residents are competing daily with NHS staff, students and visitors just to park near their homes.

00:52According to the council, the consequences go beyond frustration.

00:56Buzzes, bin lorries and even emergency vehicles are finding it harder to pass through.

01:02Safety, they say, is now at stake. The proposal is part of a wider master plan,

01:07aimed at reducing car use around the campus. But for many, that goal still feels a long way off.

01:13Public transport options are improving, but aren't always practical,

01:18especially for those working lung shifts or travelling from further afield.

01:22The scheme isn't free either. It's currently £21.60 a year for the first permit, £41.20 for a second,

01:30and over £150 for a business permit. Those prices may rise and not everyone agrees

01:36that local residents should pay to solve a problem they didn't create.

01:40The consultation is live now on the Birmingham BeHerd website.

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