Council accused of going for 'the easiest thing to do' over parking charges

Wirral Council’s Conservatives fear the local authority “still isn’t listening” and going for easy options as it looks to bring in charges in 25 areas across the borough. However Labour said Wirral was "not immune to the incompetence" of previous Conservative governments and blamed them for the council's current financial position.

Wirral Council announced on September 25 a plan to bring in new traffic regulation orders that would see charges introduced at 22 car parks and three roads where they’re currently free. Car parks where people already pay are also set to see an increase as well as those applying for resident parking permits.

Rates will range from £1.20 for one hour to £6 for four hours or more and a £1 overnight charge will also be brought in for anyone wanting to park between 6.30pm and 8am. However the plans which were only announced last week are already facing opposition with two petitions set up already.

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In December 2023, councillors from all parties unanimously approved a new parking strategy for the borough that could generate £15m for the local authority in the long run. Wirral Council said the new proposed charges were to help deliver this policy and 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.

While Labour councillors have warned not introducing the charges is “not sustainable” and the council could face “very difficult choices about what we want to do with other libraries and leisure centres,” Wirral’s Conservatives have started a campaign against their introduction. The party previously opposed the charges alongside the borough’s Liberal Democrats.

Cllr Jeff Green, who leads the borough’s Conservative councillors, said the charges had “caused an immediate angry reaction” and 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.”

He said: “I’m afraid the Town Hall still isn’t listening. If Labour and Green councillors think now is a good time to get the bad news out of the way – after the General Election and two years before the council elections - they are mistaken.” In response, Wirral Council's Labour leader Cllr Paul Stuart said Cllr Green "should try to offer practical solutions to the dire financial mess his government left the country in."

Asked how he thinks the council can close the £300,000 parking shortfall without bringing in charges, Cllr Green told the ECHO 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.”

He pointed to places like West Kirby and New Brighton, town centres he said were becoming busier and busier, adding: “What we should be doing is embracing these areas and working with them, not slapping a load of tax hurdles in their way to becoming successful.”

Similar concerns have also been raised by Wirral’s Liberal Democrats, particularly in areas like Bromborough with its close proximity to the Croft Retail Park. Cllr Phil Gilchrist said: “It is important that real thought is given to the long term survival of local shops that are handy. Given the Council’s financial headaches, decisions that damage our communities should be avoided if at all possible.”

A letter has also been sent by Sean Martin, who represents the New Brighton Coastal Community Team for businesses in the resort to Wallasey MP Dame Angela Eagle and Cllr Stuart. Mr Martin worries the charges will impact plans to regenerate New Brighton and was "a shocking example" of the council "looking at something and seeing dollar signs without looking at the bigger picture."

Cllr Paul Stuart said the proposed charges "aim to achieve the short-term policy goals outlined" in the council's parking strategy which was approved by councillors including "maintaining standardised parking charges across the borough, adjusting for annual inflation, and addressing traffic management issues by enforcing existing parking regulations."

In response to calls by Conservatives to drop the policy, Cllr Stuart said: "These proposals are part of our commitment to the Wirral Parking Strategy, approved by the Environment, Climate Emergency, and Transport Committee in December 2023, which Tory members were at that committee.

"Instead of the Leader of the Tories virtue signalling, maybe he should try to offer practical solutions to the dire financial mess his government left the country in. The effects of his government have left the country in a mess and Wirral is not immune to the incompetence of his disastrous government.”

Dame Angela Eagle encouraged people to complete the consultation by October 23 "to ensure the Council has a full picture of public feeling and opinion," adding: "I note that 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."

Pointing to the council's projected £13m overspend this year, she added: "The source of much of this overspend is unanticipated extra demand in Children's services and social care. The new Labour Government is working tirelessly to improve this situation but progress can never be instantaneous.

"Wirral Council has highlighted that these proposed changes would equalise charges across the Wirral and are not out of line with charges in other similar coastal areas. On the Wirral we enjoy parking rates which are equal to, or less than, most comparable local authorities. I will follow the consultation closely and await its conclusion."

Wirral's Green Party co-leader Cllr Pat Cleary said: "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."