Over the last few weeks, residents have contacted Councillors Lesley Rennie and Ian Lewis following the decision by West Wallasey to use Kings Parade (and other roads).
The company's use of the vast stretches of the promenade to park their vehicles means spaces previously used by residents and visitors to our coast are no longer available.
Over the summer, similar tactics saw vans parked on Green Lane, in front of people's homes and on Leasowe Road, limiting parking for football players on the pitches beyond Heyes Drive.
Meanwhile, years of road safety issues caused by inconsiderate, dangerous and illegal driving and parking around the company's offices on Cross Lane and Leasowe Road has led to further council expense for measures to tackle the worst excesses.
Councillor Lesley Rennie said:
During the summer, residents endured vans parked in Green Lane and other residential roads. The company now appears to be using, high profile locations to store large numbers of their vehicles, for free, while they seek the council’s help to find off road sites elsewhere in the Borough.
To park this number of vehicles on Kings Parade is wholly inappropriate and, I’m afraid, is not endearing the company to people who live nearby or who wish to use the promenade.
Councillor Ian Lewis said:
This company reported a profit of £71 million last year – suggesting they should be able to afford to park their vehicles off road. Sadly, this isn’t the first time there have been issues with this company - we’ve had road safety problems around their site on Leasowe Road for years, with additional cost to the taxpayer.
Now, it seems Wirral residents are expected to put up with losing car parking at a key amenity location as well.
Your questions answered:
Q: Why is this happening now?
A: The company wanted the former Mosslands playing fields. Their intention was to create yet another van parking area, behind peoples' homes in Southbourne Road and elsewhere. Possibly to the company's surprise, the Council said 'no', following a campaign by residents, supported by Ian and Lesley to have the site designated as Local Green Space in the draft Local Plan instead.
Q: So they've bought a load of new vans without having anywhere suitable off road to store them?
A: It looks that way.
Q: Is West Wallasey breaking the law?
A: So long as their vehicles are taxed and insured, are not parked in areas where parking restrictions or traffic regulation orders are in force, or across dropped kerbs, then no. To check whether a vehicle is taxed, or to report one that isn't, go to this site.
Q: I thought there was a new Traffic Regulation Order preventing overnight parking at Kings Parade?
A: There is but is currently only applies to camper vans. We've asked whether it can be extended to cover ALL vehicles.
Q: What is the Council doing about it?
A: The Council is prepared to help the company find a suitable off road site, or sites, for their vehicles but we are pressing for any site to be away from residential property, not using green space and sold or leased at full market value. We understand the council is in discussions with the company about this.
Q: So the vans parking everywhere are a tactic by the company to put pressure on the Council?
A: Several residents have suggested that but we have been clear with council managers that ANY sale or lease of land must not be because of any direct, or indirect, pressure by the company.
Q: What is being done in the meantime?
A: We've asked Council officers to see whether the traffic regulation order can be applied to ban ALL overnight parking at Kings Parade and Coastal Drive and also suggested that the mostly empty council-owned car park on Seaview Road is offered as an alternative, temporary site until it is redeveloped for housing.
Q: Doesn't the Council use West Wallasey themselves?
A: Yes and we've asked for details of how much the Council has paid them. So far, we've been referred to the Council's published monthly spending records. We've asked the Director of Finance for the figure for each of the last five years.
Q: Shouldn't we be supporting companies that create jobs?
A: Yes, but not at the expense of the wider community. There are around 500 more businesses in Wallasey since 2010, many micro and small businesses. Fortunately, the vast majority do not cause problems for residents or neighbours.
Q: I want to contact West Wallasey to tell them how I feel about this. Is that allowed?
A: Yes. Call 0151 630 3000 (but remember the person who answers the phone won't be the boss), email [email protected] or use their online message form
