Statement of Reasons 2026
- The Cabinet has approved, in its decision dated 12 September 2023, the implementation of publicly accessible electric vehicle charging points (“EV charging points”) in a number of the Council’s car parks within the Wyre Forest District.
- This decision supports the Council’s declaration of a climate emergency on 22 May 2019 and will assist in supporting use of electric vehicles in the district and therefore reducing emissions, in accordance with the Council’s duty to monitor and improve air quality under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 and other relevant legislation.
- The rollout of public EV charging points will see the installation of 47 public EV charging units across 13 Council owned car parks.
- Whilst the Council recognises that this will result in the loss of 75 regular bays across the district in total, it is considered that the parking provisions within the district will remain sufficient to meet the demand. The loss of the parking spaces will be balanced by the increased provision of EV charging points within the district providing a charging ‘safety net’, reducing range anxiety for existing electric vehicle users and incentivising more people to make the switch to electric vehicles, leading to improved air quality.
- Electric vehicles have zero tailpipe emissions, meaning that no carbon dioxide (CO2) or Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) are released at point of travel.
- Furthermore, electric vehicles utilise regenerative braking, resulting in less particulate matter emissions.
- All of the above contributes to improved air quality in the district, potentially lowering rates of respiratory conditions and reducing the need for Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) such as at Welch Gate Bewdley.
- Having declared a climate emergency on 22 May 2019 Wyre Forest District Council is committed to net zero by the year 2050. To achieve this, one of the priorities for the most recent Corporate Plan is to install EV charging points in Bewdley, Stourport, and Kidderminster by the year 2027.
- The proposed changes to the wording of the Order reflect the upcoming installation of the EV charging points.
- In addition, the following matters also form part of this consultation.
- It is proposed that the Worcester Street Surface Vehicle Park, Kidderminster (“Plan A”) be removed from the Order. This is because of the recent redevelopment of the former Magistrates’ Court into The Old Court, and the changing car parking needs in the district. The site is no longer capable of use as a car park.
- It is also proposed to re-designate the Raven Street Vehicle Surface Park, Stourport on Severn from long stay car park to short stay car park. This follows the closure of the temporary Bridge Street car park due to the expiration of the temporary planning permission for use as a car park, the Council’s wish to prepare the land for potential disposal and the suboptimal usage in that location, meaning that it was surplus to requirement. However, the Council acknowledges that as a result Stourport on Severn no longer has a car park designated as “short stay” and Raven Street car park was identified as the most appropriate location for the re-designation. Parking charges are intended to be in line with all other short stay car parks in the district.
- It is further proposed to add Brinton Park Surface Vehicle Park (“Plan B”) and Burlish Meadows Surface Vehicle Park (“Plan C”) into the Order. The use of these car parks is not currently regulated by the Order, and this results in congestion of traffic in the car parks and the surrounding area due to the unreasonable usage of the space for parking provided. This includes unauthorised use of disabled parking spaces as well as occupying the parking area for excessively long periods of time (days), unreasonably blocking the area and preventing others from being able to park when accessing these locations.
- It is also proposed to amend the Dog Lane Surface Vehicle Car Park plan in to remove the area known as Hackett’s Meadow, which had previously been included in the plan, to reflect the proposed transfer of the land to Bewdley Town Council as agreed by Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet on 11 November 2025 (“Plans D (Original Plan), E (Land to be Removed) and F (New Plan to be included in the Order”).
- There are also several minor amendments to clarify the wording of the Order.