FED-UP Halesowen councillors say they have been dealt a "body blow" after Dudley Council reneged on its promise of bringing a car park to Shell Corner.
Halesowen North councillors Parmjit Sahota and Hilary Bills say a council-owned car park is desperately needed to stop the blight of inconsiderate parking on the centre.
They claim they have been promised a car park in the area for two decades.
They said Dudley Council spent £50k on a report last year which recommended the area needed a car park again after a previous report in 2008 came to the same conclusion - but that it has now said it will not support the move.
There are lots of businesses on Shell Corner including barbers, furniture sales, restaurants, pet food shops, pubs, takeaways and kitchen and bathroom wholesalers, which the councillors say need adequate parking for customers.
Parmjit said: "It's a body blow for us.
"We thought the council was supporting the need for a car park - we were gobsmacked.
"There's frustration in the community on how the area is being sidelined - it's the only centre out of 14 in the Dudley borough which doesn't have a car park. It's an injustice.
"Having no car park undermines the vitality of the centre.
"It makes residents and businesses very angry."
Hilary said: "It's been 20 years and nothing has happened.
"Cabinet member David Stanley did a site visit in March 2023 and agreed a car park was needed - then three months later we are told we're not getting one.
"The Conservatives even promised investing in local centres in their election literature in May and now have done a U-turn on Shell Corner.”
The pair said a parcel of land on Belgrave Road which was a "once in a lifetime opportunity" for the council to buy and turn into a car park has been sold, however other sites are still options as highlighted by the recent report.
Councillor Paul Bradley, deputy leader of Dudley Council, said: “There are no current plans or funding to develop a new car park at Shell Corner, however we remain committed to continue working with local ward councillors to look at a range of options to support the regeneration of Shell Corner.”
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