Cars parking in the shops car park behind West Kirby station face being hit with a £100 fine after the installation of a new automatic number plate recognition camera.
The car park is private land with spaces for the traders who operate from the station shops.
However, it is common to see cars using it briefly as a drop off and pick up point for commuters travelling to and from Liverpool.
The property agent behind the move has defended it, arguing that it is “not a car park provided or maintained by Merseyrail and as such is not a drop off & pick up point”, and claiming that it was “largely full of people who were not authorised to be there meaning that the people who are, can not get in”.
UK Car Parking Solutions has erected a camera at the entrance to the car park, along with signage on the steel fencing.
The signs warn that “parking is permitted for registered virtual permit holders only” and that “by entering or remaining on this land you agree to abide by all of the terms and conditions.”
It states that the restrictions apply at all times and “automatic number [plate] recognition will be in use”.
The signage warns that charges have to be paid within 28 days and that “non payment will result in a collection fee of £70”.
Colin Free, from Saville and Woods property agents, told West Kirby Today: “You will appreciate that as a private car park for the use of authorised personnel, it is not our wish to penalise people unnecessarily however, this is not a car park provided or maintained by Merseyrail and as such is not a drop off & pick up point – unless this is for tenants of the properties including Argyle Satellite Taxi’s.
“We have tried to work with people to allow reasonable usage however, we had reached a stage when the car park was largely full of people who were not authorised to be there meaning that the people who are, can not get in. To that extent we are not operating now operating this car park any different than the any of the local supermarkets or indeed Wirral Borough Council (both in terms of their car parks or parking in unauthorised areas).”
Citizens Advice has a page on its website with advice for people who receive a parking charge notice, which can be found at https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/law-and-courts/parking-tickets/appealing-parking-tickets/parking-tickets-on-private-land-s/.