People reacted angrily to the decision calling it “a bloody joke.”
Charges are being brought in for 25 areas where it is currently free to park in Wirral. This is despite 80.6% saying they opposed all the parking plans put forward by Wirral Council.
In September, the local authority announced a plan to bring in traffic regulation orders that would see charges introduced at 22 car parks and on roads in three coastal areas where they’re currently free. Car parks where people already pay will also increase and a £1 charge brought in overnight.
The plans drew quick backlash from people in areas like New Brighton and Bromborough with thousands signing petitions. However on December 3 at an environment and transport committee, Labour and Green councillors voted to approve the new charges as well as other increases to fees while Conservatives and Liberal Democrats voted against after putting forward an unsuccessful alternative.
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Public at the meeting who petitioned the council to not approve the plans responded with angry outcry following the vote. One woman said: “It’s a bloody joke. Democracy is dead.”
Councillors in favour repeatedly pointed to the council’s budget position as it faces possible bankruptcy arguing the council had to make every single saving it could in terms of the car parks it owns. A report presented to councillors said if off-street parking plans weren’t approved, cuts would have to be made to other services.
Cllr Steve Foulkes said he took seriously the petitions sent in and even care services “could come under threat” to balance the budget, adding: “The long term prediction from our financial officers is that we are in for a tough time and we do have to make tough decisions.” He said the charges would be reviewed in a year.
However those against pointed to the significant opposition in the public consultation where 93% opposed charges in car parks that are currently free. They said the council’s finance issues wouldn’t be solved by raising charges and argued it would impact businesses in areas like New Brighton and West Kirby.
Cllr Jeff Green said: “These are starting to thrive and starting to find their new role in a very difficult area and it strikes me we should be supporting that. We shouldn’t be choking that off by introducing on-street car parking charges in those areas.”
A Conservative alternative was put forward and supported by Liberal Democrat Cllr Allan Brame called for on street charges in coastal areas to be scrapped, approve the inflationary increase where the council already charged for parking, and review each of the 22 car parks on a case by case basis. This was voted down seven to four.
After the vote, Phil Spencer, who got 3,500 people to sign a petition against charges in Bromborough village, said: “I can only see decline. We know the importance of that car park in getting people in. They come from outside the borough as well as inside to shop and do business there.”
While he said he understand the council needed to raise funds, he described it as “a bulldozer of a strategy,” adding: “It didn’t give any leeway to help areas if they were going to be put under stress. That was our biggest disappointment.” In the meeting, he said businesses on the high street “remain on a knife edge. There couldn’t be a worse time to bring in measures like this.”
However data published by the council showed no drop in trips in the 25 weeks after standardised parking charges were brought in in 2021. A local authority chart suggests monthly trips in Wirral even saw a slight rise between August 2021 and April 2022.
Charges will increase at the following car parks where charges already apply with a new £1 overnight charge. In Birkenhead, these are Europa Square, Cook Street, Wilbraham Street, Exmouth Street, Atherton Street, Europa Pools, Barton Street, Woodside Approach, Hinson Street, Duncan Street, Elgin Way, Quarry Bank Street, and Price Street.
In Heswall, these are Upper Mount Avenue, Rocky Lane, Pye Road, Mount Avenue, Puddydale in Heswall and in West Kirby, Dee Lane and the Concourse. In Liscard, Seaview Road, Liscard Village, and Liscard Crescent could see costs increase as well as at Wirral Country Park in Thurstaston, Royden Park, Arrowe Country Park, and Eastham Country Park.
Parking permits for traders of £720 a year and Wirral Council Park permits of £120 per year are available with new charges brought in at the following car parks as well as a £1 overnight charge:
- Fort Perch Rock car park in New Brighton
- Derby Pool car park in New Brighton
- Chamberlain Street car park in Birkenhead
- Old Chester Road / Chamberlain Street car park in Birkenhead
- Turner Street car park in Birkenhead
- Banks Road car park in Heswall
- Roslin Road car park in Irb
- Fishers Lane car park in Pensby
- Carr Lane car park in Hoylake
- Charles Road car park in Hoylake
- Market Street car park in Hoylake
- Barlow Avenue car park in Bebington
- Church Road car park in Bebington
- Roland Avenue car park in Bebington
- Allport Lane car park in Bromborough
- Mill Park Drive car park in Eastham
- Manor Road car park in Liscard
- Garden Lane car park in Moreton
- Holt Avenue car park in Moreton
- Pasture Road car park in Moreton
- Gunsite car park in Leasowe
- Thurstaston Common car park in Thurstaston
Charges will also be brought in for the following roads in three areas. These are South Parade in West Kirby, North Parade and Meols Parade in Hoylake and Meols as well as Kings Parade, Coastal Drive, Bayview Drive, and Marine Promenade in New Brighton and Wallasey.
In all car parks owned by the council, roads within the Birkenhead Controlled Parking Zone, and the roads listed above, it will cost £1.20 for each hour of parking with £6 for over four hours between 8am and 6.30pm. It will cost £1 to park overnight.
The council said the changes are in line with a policy that was unanimously approved in 2023. This parking strategy said the council could apply standardised parking charges across the borough as well as the ability to introduce traffic regulations where required.
The report published before the committee said it would help with parking demand during peak times and “encourages fairness and equity across the borough with consistent charging.” Money raised from these new parking charges are expected to be around £150,000 to £300,000 from 2026 with any income not expected to be generated until summer next year in 2025.
