A parking firm which was slammed for the way it runs a Wirral car park is now seeking permission for cameras and signs it has already put up at the site.
Smart Parking took over the operation of Liscard’s Cherry Tree Shopping Centre car park last summer, something which has generated huge controversy with dozens taking to social media to complain about fines they have been given. Last October, it emerged the operator does not have planning permission for some of the cameras and signs it is using to manage the Liscard car park, something the firm is seeking to address by applying for retrospective planning permission.
Commenting on this in April, Cllr Janette Williamson, leader of Wirral Council, launched an attack on the company, saying breaking planning rules while punishing others for not following the parking rules it has put in place to the letter “smacks of outrageous hypocrisy”. Reacting to such criticism at the time, a spokesperson for Smart Parking said it was brought in to manage the car park for one simple reason, to stop “endemic parking abuse”, and that the ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) camera system has successfully stopped the parking abuse.
READ MORE: Woman in ‘extreme pain’ brands parking firm 'cruel' for £60 fine
On Thursday, June 9, Wirral Council’s Planning Committee must decide whether to allow the cameras and signs to remain. The committee must rule on two applications, one for eight signs and another for three ANPR cameras and the replacement of four pay and display machines.
An online petition which has gained 908 signatures is calling on the committee to reject both applications. Petitioners believe the cameras and signs are damaging Liscard town centre’s reputation and having a negative impact on the economy, among other concerns.
Liscard councillor Daisy Kenny, who represents Labour, also feels the plan undermines Liscard’s regeneration and wants the plans rejected. But council officers have recommended that the committee approves both applications, stating neither would result in an “adverse effect on visual or residential amenity, and highway or public safety”.
Speaking in April, a spokesperson for Smart Parking said: "Smart Parking was brought in to manage the Cherry Tree Car Park in Liscard Town Centre for one simple reason, to stop the endemic parking abuse that had been taking place. This simply wasn’t a fair situation as it meant that some people were correctly paying for parking while others were not.
“To tackle this we installed a state of the art ANPR parking management system that monitors cars entering and exiting and prevents people parking for free, and this has successfully stopped the parking abuse. It is important to highlight that at the car park these terms and conditions are clearly defined across numerous signs which are fully compliant with British Parking Association (BPA) regulations.
“To support vulnerable motorists we have introduced a mechanism that facilitates free parking for Disabled Badge Holders, which is not a common feature at public parking areas located on private land. In addition Smart Parking operates a BPA audited appeals service and encourages motorists to contact us if they feel there are mitigating circumstances in their cases.
“Finally, throughout the process we have worked with the local council, including Cllr Williamson, and haven’t received any indication from them that there were any concerns."
