Liverpool Council aims to press on with ending free parking in the city centre after 6pm despite an almost universal backlash to proposals.
In November, the local authority announced it was looking into the viability of scrapping free evening parking as part of a revamp of on-street provision across the city centre. Currently, drivers can leave their cars on the road without charge from 6pm.
Under new proposals, the city’s controlled parking zone (CPZ) would allow charges to be enforced from 7am to 11pm and increase by 10p per half hour, in a move the council said would raise £1.6m. However, results of a public engagement exercise held in December have revealed how almost 90% of respondents were against any changes to the existing system.
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Despite this, Liverpool Council’s cabinet is expected to sign off on plans for a full statutory consultation next week. Joanne Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, said the city centre had gone through an “amazing transformation” since the introduction of the controlled parking zone in 1995 but now more than 35,000 residents were calling it home.
She said to not address parking challenges would be “foolhardy” and a “process that should have been addressed some time ago.” The proposed new charge – which the authority said is still lower than other major UK cities – would be reinvested in city centre operations.
Currently, 30 minutes parking costs £1.20, this would go up to £1.30. Up to an hour would increase to £2.50 from £2.40. Around 1,500 people responded to the initial non-statutory exercise before Christmas and as a result, it has been recommended plans for a two-hour maximum stay be shelved.
A cabinet report said: “Support for these proposals was not expected, given the controversial nature of the changes being proposed, and this was reinforced from strong representations from Engage Liverpool, Liverpool BID, the Chamber of Commerce, Hope Street CIC and the Philharmonic Hall, amongst other strategic responses. These were generally not in favour of the proposals, referencing the likely detrimental impact this would have on their business ability to retain customers on a two-hour turnover for those choosing to park on street.
“Other concerns were raised around city centre workers, including night-time safety, the availability of good alternative off-street parking and poor public transport as an alternative means of accessing the city centre, especially for those on minimum wage.” The council said the aim of the new operational hours was to formalise the on-street parking provision in the evenings, potentially making more spaces available for those with residents and business permits and improving road safety and network management.
However, 89% of all respondents were against the proposal, 72% of residents were opposed to the extension together with 81% of businesses. The cabinet documents said “a more balanced response” was received for the proposed parking tariff increase, with respondents having “more understanding of financial operational pressures and recognising that Liverpool remains significantly behind other major cities.”
More than half of respondents were said to be in favour of an increase in fees but highlighted the current pay and display machines were of poor quality and often didn’t work – leading to additional charges through pay-by-phone apps. Additional changes to be put forward as part of the consultation include footway parking enforcement where yellow lines are in force and blue badge users being able to park for upto three hours on yellow lines.
It is thought that until parking behaviour improves, extended hours of charging could generate enforcement revenues “broadly estimated at £240,000” at which point the council forecasts revenue will reduce proportionately. Mayor Anderson said: “The proposals that have been put forward are aimed at creating a better balance between the environmental and economic impact of on-street parking, which after 6pm creates real tension and frustration in the city centre for residents and businesses.
“The monies raised will be used to invest in improving various services that make the city centre tick. We understand any changes will not be met with universal acclaim, but habits need to change if we are to have a city centre that works for everyone.
“The provision of public transport and off-street car parking has grown and adapted – and will continue to do so, and we need to reflect that as well. The statutory consultation will be a great opportunity to continue to listen to feedback and review these proposals and refine them where possible, as we already have done following the initial, non-statutory consultation late last year.”
Subject to cabinet approval next week, the statutory consultation is expected to begin next month.
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