Campaigners and councillors fighting a proposal to introduce parking charges on South Parade in West Kirby have taken to the streets to garner support.
The proposal from the minority Labour-controlled authority would mean drivers having to pay £1.20 an hour to park on the fronts in West Kirby, Hoylake and Meols, 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.
Community group One West Kirby visited businesses along Banks Road on Saturday to encourage them to sign a petition, put up posters, and write to the council objecting to the plan.
Meanwhile, local Conservative Party activists (pictured above) gathered names at a stall on Dee Lane, and say they now have almost 2,000 signatories against the proposals.
The scheme would also affect other car parks across Wirral, and the front at New Brighton.
The council argues it “will help address the challenges and future parking impacts by managing traffic, congestion, and ensuring regular turnover of spaces in line with the approved Wirral Parking Strategy”.
Wirral Council’s environment and transport committee chair, Labour councillor Liz Grey, has also warned it could mean difficult decisions about other services if the car parking service continues to cost £300,000 a year to subsidise.
However, community group One West Kirby, believes the council could be hit by a reduction in business rates if local firms close down or leave as a result of charges being introduced.
Committee member Dawn Wormell said: “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.
“We feel that they [the council] are acting outside of the requirements of the Road Traffic Act in trying to implement paid parking on South Parade and that the shortfall of money needs to be looked at in a long-term perspective, and that if they increase the business and visitor opportunities in West Kirby, those monies will come in through business rates.
“We haven’t met one person who feels that this is the right thing for West Kirby.”
Dawn Wormall from One West Kirby (left) speaking to local business, The Front Room
Conservative councillor, Max Booth, said: “It’s another unnecessary financial burden on people. It’s another unnecessary hammer blow to the high street, and also residential streets.
“You’re going to have residential streets that are already busy, even busier with people parking off the promenade and away from the car parks.
“It’s just ludicrous that we’re talking about this. We should be encouraging a seaside town. We should be encouraging inward investment. Instead we’re talking about putting more charges on people who are already struggling.”
Announcing a consultation on the charges, Wirral Council said: “The changes also support the strategy in aligning and supporting other policies and initiatives, such as the Cool Wirral campaign to encourage local climate-related action.
“Charging would allow the council to meet the costs of continuing to provide dedicated public car parking into the future in a fair and equitable manner, ensuring that any new parking plans are self-financing.”
The consultation runs until Wednesday 23 October and can be found at https://haveyoursay.wirral.gov.uk/car-parking-charges-traffic-regulation-orders-consultation-2024.
The findings of the consultation will be reported back to the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee later this year for a decision.
Councillors will also be asked to decide on the proposal to increase fees in areas where charges were already present.
