A pub owner has shared his concerns following the introduction of parking charges at a railway station in Hartlebury.
Dave Higgs, who took over The Tap House in June 2018, fears the parking charges at Hartlebury Railway Station will cause “huge problems” on Station Road.
Since the charges were introduced on April 15, the 63-year-old said the station car park had been “quiet” with several drivers instead choosing to park for free on Station Road.
This has previously led to the road becoming blocked with HGVs unable to get through.
The Tap House (Image: Dave Higgs)
Mr Higgs said: “Nobody knew the railway was going to introduce parking charges.
“The signs turned up out of nowhere. It seems so strange to charge people when there are only about 11 parking spaces at the station. I can’t see the benefit.
“If I look at the car park, there are about four cars using it, but another five cars are parked on Station Road instead as it’s free.
“This has happened before – people just park outside people’s homes and block Station Road.
“On a previous occasion, the police had to be called as a lorry got stuck trying to get down the road.
“It’s going to cause huge problems – I know people won’t be happy.”
The Tap House, which brews its own beer, is not affected by the parking charges and has its own separate car park, which cannot be used by rail users unless they are visiting the pub.
West Midlands Railway said it had introduced the parking charges to bring the site in line with other stations, including Kidderminster and Droitwich.
The revenue generated from the parking charges “will be used to improve services”.
The pub has a private car park separate to the train station (Image: Dave Higgs)
Mr Higgs said there were plans before lockdown to increase the station parking as Hartlebury had been identified as a station with a parking problem.
Mr Higgs, who is also managing director at D H Commercials (leasing) Ltd, said: “We have about 1.9 acres of land as a commercial vehicle site. We’re technically classed as a car park.
“Before lockdown, Wychavon District Council picked out Hartlebury as a station with a parking problem.
“We offered 66 car parking spaces in exchange for some houses or industrial units, but we found out that we’d have to pay and sort out all the surveys ourselves.
“Councillors changed after that and Covid came, so nothing ever happened with it, and then we put in plans for housing. They had every chance to have a new car park but nothing came of it.
“I have no idea what’s going to happen now. I think the railway thought The Tap House was causing problems with customers using their parking, but we’ve got plenty here and an overspill. It was rail users who were taking up spaces in our car park.”
Mr Higgs, who lives in Great Witley, said he does get rail users parking in his pub car park occasionally, but there are signs in place informing drivers that the parking is only for customers.
He said: “It happens that rail users will use our car park, but I’ve got signs up. We can’t always monitor it when it’s busy, but largely it’s not too much of a problem.
“The real issue is on Station Road and the parking problems the charges are going to cause.
“The train station car park has been so quiet over the last few days. It’s the way of the economy – people aren’t going to pay if they can park for free on the road.”
A spokesperson for West Midlands Railway said: “Parking charges were introduced at Hartlebury on Wednesday (April 15), bringing the site in line with nearby stations such as Kidderminster and Droitwich Spa, where charges already apply.
“Revenue raised from car parking is used to improve services and reduce the cost of running the railway to the taxpayer.
“Discounts are available on weekly, monthly or annual parking permits and payment can be made via the Saba website, app or in person via the ticket machine at the station.”