Conservatives in Sunderland have slammed the proposal to introduce parking charges at the Stadium of Light on non-match days as ‘short-sighted’ and ‘poorly timed’.
Annual permits will cost £350, with the hourly rate set at 50p or £3 for a full day.
James Doyle, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group on Sunderland City Council and Shadow Spokesperson for Environment and Transport, said:
This is a poorly timed intervention by the Council. We are in the middle of a cost of living crisis, with many parents struggling to afford to send their children to sports clubs on top of rising utility bills. To suggest that now is the appropriate time to implement a parking charge is frankly ridiculous, and this is reflected in the clear public opposition to the idea.
‘It is important to remember that the Stadium of Light car park also serves the Aquatic Centre and Beacon of Light. We should be making it easier for residents to access these top-notch facilities, in line with the Council’s own City Plan.
‘The argument that this proposal will encourage more sustainable transport modes is short-sighted. We need to take a broader view of active travel. The way to get more people cycling and using public transport is not to penalise motorists in this way. Instead, we should be making cycle lanes safer to use and exploring ways of making parts of the city more walkable.
