PLANS to charge shoppers to park at the Merry Hill shopping centre could encourage residents to use the Kingfisher precinct instead, it's manager has said.

Ian McLelland told the Advertiser he had been aware Merry Hill may start charging for parking, outlined in the Black Country Consortium's Regional Spatial Strategy Phase One, for the last two years.

"Most shopping centres, including those who currently do free parking, may have to move to charged parking because it costs so much to run them," explained Mr McLelland.

He said he thought it would certainly make a difference over time because the draw of free parking encouraged people to travel further.

"What people forget about is you will probably pay at least £5-6 petrol each way for free parking, when you get two hours at the Kingfisher for £1 - I used to do it but once I started working out the petrol, I stopped.

"It's certainly going to be a benefit for us, but that is if they do it - there are other reasons to visit the site, it has a wide range of outlets. I still think it would have an impact but what that is I do not know."