WIRRAL'S controversial plans to bring in charges for free car parks have been praised as ‘fairer’ by one of the borough’s opposition groups. Wirral’s Green Party said that for many residents, including those on lower incomes, “owning a car is not an option.”
Wirral Council announced on September 25 that it intended to bring in traffic regulation orders that would see charges introduced at 22 car parks in three key roads in New Brighton, Meols and West Kirby. Car parks where people already pay are also set to see an increase.
Rates will range from £1.20 for one hour to £6 for four hours or more. A £1 overnight charge will also be brought in for anyone wanting to park between 6.30pm and 8am.
The council said the proposed new charges would help deliver a parking strategy passed last year. In July, a budget report said parking charges would be needed to help balance the local authority’s finances and close a £300,000 shortfall in its parking budget. However the plan has been criticised by the council’s Conservative members with the Liberal Democrats also raising concerns.
No political party in Wirral has a majority but Labour, the largest with 29 councillors, said the charges were part of a parking policy that was passed with all party support. Council leader Paul Stuart accused the Conservatives of “virtue signalling” and argued the opposition party “should try to offer practical solutions to the dire financial mess [their] government left the country in.”
Similar criticisms have also been levelled at previous Conservative governments by Wallasey MP Dame Angela Eagle who was sent a letter by a New Brighton community group. She said: “Wirral Council is having to do more than ever, with tighter and tighter budgets – the direct consequence of 14 years of the Tories neglecting communities like our own and underfunding local authorities.”
For any charges to pass, they will need the support of Labour and at least one other party. Wirral’s Green Party said they are fully in support of the move, pointing to the number of people who don’t have a car in the borough. Census 2021 statistics show 25% of Wirral residents don’t have a car.
This number rises to 40% or more in some areas like central Birkenhead, Seacombe, Bidston or Tranmere for people who don’t have a car. However in many parts of west Wirral, it’s the opposite with more than 85% of people own a car with figures rising to more than 90% in Raby Mere, Thornton Hough, Gayton, and Caldy.
Green Party co-leader Cllr Pat Cleary said the money raised from the charges “will ensure the cost of servicing and maintaining car parks are fully covered by those who use them,” and pointed out that Blue badge holders and some volunteer groups will still be able to park for free. He added business parking permits costing £720 a year were the less than £14 a week.
He added: “This is fairer as currently all council taxpayers subsidise parking, whether they own a vehicle or not. For many Wirral residents, especially those struggling financially, owning a car is not an option.
“It is unfair to ask these families to subsidise parking for others when their money could be better used to support local services and improve public spaces. Notably, parts of Birkenhead and Wallasey, where over half of households do not own any private vehicles, experience the worst air quality and the highest levels of traffic danger.
“Wirral’s parking strategy, which was approved by all parties, promotes fairness and encourages sustainable transport options. By reducing pollution, it will benefit everyone, especially those most affected by poor air quality. The council must balance its budget fairly, and this policy ensures a more equitable sharing of the financial burden.”
However, the Conservatives are pointing to “an immediate angry reaction” caused by the new charges and their leader Cllr Jeff Green believes if approved the charges would be “the final straw” for struggling high street businesses. He pointed to the council consultation on its parking strategy that showed 76.5% opposed extending charges to free car parks “to cover the costs required to maintain and operate them.”
Asked how he thinks the council can close the £300,000 parking shortfall without bringing in charges, Cllr Green told the LDRS he believes the council could “improve itself, its processes and reduce waste.” While he did not offer any specifics at this stage, he said: “It’s the easiest thing to do to put the tax up but it’s much more difficult to look at the long term.”
He added: “If someone is saying the council is so short of money that it needs to disrupt everyone’s lives and make it more difficult for the high streets that are struggling and disrupt all residents, then frankly I don’t believe it.
“This is part of the problem with Wirral Council is it takes a silo mentality about how it spends its money rather than thinking about how the whole council spends its money.”