Saqib Bhatti, MP for Meriden, has written to the Co-op Supermarket after residents who use the Three Trees Community Centre have received fines for parking in the supermarket car park at 850 Chester Road in Chelmsley Wood.
Due to local people who worked in the offices across the street using the car park all day, the Co-op had to introduce a parking restriction. Now there is number plate recognition, and the car park only allows parking for two hours.
The Community Centre holds activities throughout the week, for disadvantaged local people and for disabled people. The centre is run by volunteers but due to the issues surrounding parking, the centre is finding it difficult to attract events.
North Solihull Singers rehearse at the centre, but the conductor now has to give the singers a break halfway through the rehearsal so that they can move their cars from the Co-op car park as to not receive a fine whereas Birmingham Concert Band have stopped rehearsing at the centre all together.
Commenting on the parking situation:
“The Three Trees Community Centre is a pillar of the community and without it, many disadvantaged and disabled people will be stripped of the ability to socialise with local people and participate in activities.
“Their need of funding is getting critical, owing to their increasing costs and they need to hold more events. However, without a parking solution, the community centre is finding it increasingly difficult to attract visitors.
“I will do everything I can to ensure the community centre continues to run and I will continue to write to the Co-op and advocate for changing the parking restrictions in the Co-op from two hours to three.”
