Residents fear charges will worsen parking problems

Ledbury residents fear the introduction of parking charges at the town’s railway station will worsen on-street parking problems on nearby streets.

Councillors are calling for joined-up thinking between the local authorities and railway bosses ahead of the new charges being implemented.

West Midlands Railway have stated they plan to impose parking charges at the station off The Homend but are yet to give an exact date for when they will come into force.

They say discussions are ongoing with local councils and partners and rates are yet to be finalised.

Colin Howard and Fran Bradley, who both live nearby, say the parking charges could make a bad situation worse for many of the neighbouring streets.

“Masefield Avenue is a cul-de-sac so there are only three reasons why a vehicle should park along it,” Mr Howard said.

“One, it’s a resident parking. Two, it’s a visitor or three, it’s a delivery or the emergency services.

“But we get countless cars parking in the street when they can’t get a space at the station.”

Ms Bradley said the introduction of charges will not help the situation.

“We love the station, it’s absolutely crucial to the town but we want it managed properly and not at our expense.

“The streets are only inundated with cars because there is no adequate parking for the station.”

Mayor Philip Howells said local councillors were arranging a meeting with rail bosses to discuss issues at the station and the knock-on effect parking charges would have.

Ledbury North county councillor Liz Harvey said discussions were also ongoing for new parking on the eastbound platform side of the station.

Andy Camp, commercial director for West Midlands Railway, said the charges were part of a wider improvement programme for their station car parks.

“We are in discussions with the relevant local authorities,” he said.

“The charges will help reduce ‘rail heading’, when motorists drive extra miles to avoid charges, preventing local residents from accessing the station.

“We want to make all our stations easier and safer to use and our £60million investment programme looks beyond the station boundary.

“Every station is undergoing a sustainable transport review and we are also investing in 2,760 more cycle spaces across our network.”