The results of Wirral Council’s consultation on parking charges have been published.
In response to the proposal to introduce charges at off-street car parks, such as Garden Lane and Holt Avenue in Moreton, 93% of the 2,937 people who replied said they opposed the plans.
Councillor Vida Wilson (Conservative, Moreton West & Saughall Massie) said:
“Whenever Wirral Council introduces parking charges, the first to suffer are the residents. The next to suffer are the shops and businesses in the area. We’ve seen that in Birkenhead and we’ve seen that in Liscard. The result is desolate car parks, boarded up shops and empty high streets.
“The Town Hall asked people for their views and the people have given a very clear and resounding rejection to the plans. Moreton has managed to buck the trend in Wirral and continues to attracts visitors from across the Borough. These charges are a kick in the teeth to those shops and businesses which have battled against online and out of town shopping.”
Meanwhile, the plan for charges at the Borough’s most popular tourist and visitor attractions, including Kings Parade and Coastal Drive in Wallasey, was rejected by 86% of 2,744 respondents.
Councillor Lesley Rennie (Conservative, Wallasey Ward) added:
“Kings Parade is one of the most popular venues for residents and visitors alike. Blighting this local green space, and other coastal areas, with parking meters is not the answer to the council’s failure to tackle the £400,000 being lost on its parking enforcement contract.
“While I am glad the Council has, for now at least, pulled their plan for massive increases in the cost of resident parking permits, the rest of the proposals before next week’s committee are unacceptable to a massive majority of residents.
“Any Councillor voting for this, at a time when the cost of living is still going up, and with growing economic uncertainty, needs a reality check. The Town Hall’s consultation is clear: people, shops and businesses do not support Labour’s plans.”
