Wirral Council looks set to push ahead with plans to introduce parking charges on the promenades at Hoylake and West Kirby, despite huge opposition.
The cash-strapped local authority – which recently warned it has a £21 million black hole in this year’s budget, largely due to increasing costs for social care – will consider the proposal at a meeting next week.
It would mean drivers having to pay £1.20 an hour to park on the fronts in West Kirby, Hoylake and Meols, and New Brighton, up to a maximum of £6. There would also be a fee of £1 to park overnight, from 6.30pm to 8am.
Charges are also set to be introduced at car parks on Charles Road and Market Street in Hoylake, the ‘park and ride’ facility at Hoylake railway station on Carr Lane, and at Thurstaston Common. All were previously free.
Wirral Council’s environment and transport committee chair, Labour councillor Liz Grey, has warned it could mean difficult decisions about other services if the car parking service continues to cost £300,000 a year to subsidise.
Dawn Wormall from One West Kirby (left) speaking to local business, The Front Room
Community group One West Kirby, which represents local residents and businesses, has warned it will be a massive blow for the high street in the town, whilst local Conservative councillors have expressed concerns over the knock-on effect on nearby streets.
One West Kirby committee member Dawn Wormell previously told us: “Businesses are saying that this will be a nail in their coffin. It won’t be good for business. It won’t be good for the community.
“Business has been a struggle in recent years and this will just add another layer of problem and difficulty for them.”
Both Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, which is responsible for public transport, and Merseyrail, have objected to the introduction of charges at the ‘park and ride’ facility at Carr Lane in Hoylake, arguing it will put commuters off using public transport.
A report to councillors reveals that 86.3 per cent of the 2,696 people who responded to a questionnaire objected to the Hoylake and Meols proposals, while 85.9 per cent of the 2,696 respondents to the West Kirby plan were against it.
Local Conservative councillors oppose the move
The report says: “The intention for the change to on-street parking charges is to achieve more effective traffic management through the introduction of payments and the subsequent turnover in spaces.
“The introduction of the proposed charges will seek to ensure that during peak periods of parking demand, spaces are available and there is a higher turnover of parking spaces.
“Parking charges will encourage some motorists to consider where and for how long they park and also their mode of transport when visiting an area.
It adds: “Parking is a discretionary service, there is a need to ensure it has a balanced budget and that charges made for the provision of the parking service cover costs, plan for unforeseen expenses, maintenance, shortfalls in some years as well as the regulation of demand.
“The charges proposed would allow the Council to set charges to reflect its parking strategy and provide consistent charging in a fair and reasonable manner while meeting the aims of the approved parking strategy.”
Council officers have cited a 14 year-old study by the Transport Research Laboratory which found the introduction of charges does not affect businesses because customers consolidate trips, and another by the Welsh government in 2017 which found free parking can have a negative affect as it is used by local residents or nearby workers.
They also note that the introduction of parking charges at Wirral Country Park has not significantly affected visitor numbers.
And they dismiss claims the introduction of charges is unlawful, arguing that it is to manage demand and encourage responsible travel.
They also suggest that the concerns from transport bosses over the introduction of charges at the Hoylake park and ride facility could be dealt with alternatively if the Council were to lease the land to them under a commercial arrangement.
The report notes that, across the borough, several hundred responses were received in support of the plans.
At the meeting on Tuesday 3 December, councillors will also be asked to decide on a proposal to increase fees by 20p per hour in areas in which there are already charges.