Everton stadium parking zone could 'kill jobs'

Almost 7,000 people have signed a petition urging Liverpool Council to re-think the proposed parking restrictions

Thousands of people have signed a petition claiming a proposal to implement a parking zone around Everton's new stadium will "kill businesses".

From Monday, when the first test event takes place at the £500m Bramley-Moore Dock site, restrictions will come into force similar to those already in place around Goodison Park and Anfield stadiums.

The restrictions mean any business within a 30-minute walk of the stadium must pay an annual £50 permit per vehicle to park at anytime - not just on match days.

Liverpool City Council said a consultation was under way and urged people to get in touch with feedback.

The petition signed by almost 7,000 people, claims the restrictions could "kill businesses and put late-night workers in danger," the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

It was set up by Paul Blair, who operates Hot Water Comedy Club based at Blackstock Street Market within the proposed zone.

Comedian Paul Smith, resident compere at the club, also took to Instagram to criticise the proposals, which he described as "stupid".

Hot Water Comedy Club said the move could put staff leaving late shifts at risk

"It's unbelievably overzealous what they've done," he wrote.

"We understand there needs to be matchday parking restrictions, there's going to be lots of people coming into the area.

"But they have basically said no parking at any time in a lot of the surrounding areas which is affecting thousands of businesses, residents that can't have visitors around, it's completely overzealous, it's stupid."

Mr Smith also said that the restrictions posed risks to staff leaving late night venues who would be unable to afford to park outside their workplaces.

More than 4,000 residents and 3,000 businesses have been invited to apply for the relevant parking permits ahead of the zone going live under an Experimental Traffic Road Order (ETRO).

The ETRO will run for up to 18 months and will be reviewed by the council's highways and transportation team.

Residents will be able to apply for a permit for each vehicle registered at their address and one, no-fee visitor permit.

Liverpool councillor Dan Barrington, cabinet member for transport and connectivity, previously said the changes were being implemented because the city's North Dock area had never had to "cope with such large numbers of people".

He said the council was hoping to apply the "experience and knowledge" of operating the zones around Goodison Park and Anfield to the new stadium.

"By creating this new match day parking zone, we'll be looking to adopt and incorporate those controls which so effectively move tens of thousands on a weekly basis," he added.