Car park charges will be 'devastating' for town

Sean Martin has written to the leader of the council over what he said were "shocking" car parking plans

Council plans to start charging for parking across a popular coastal site have been slammed as a "devastating tax".

Wirral Council is looking to start charging for parking at 22 car parks including Kings Parade and Coastal Drive in New Brighton, in a bid to to help balance their budget and meet a £300,000 shortfall.

The proposal could see the New Brighton sites, and others, costing £1.20 an hour or £6 for over four hours until 20:00 BST.

Sean Martin, chair of the New Brighton coastal community team, said the charges would prevent the town from prospering.

Many residents and visitors use the car park at Fort Perch Rock, in New Brighton

Mr Martin has written to Dame Angela Eagle, Labour MP for Wallasey and councillor Paul Stuart, Labour leader of Wirral Council, to ask them to reconsider the plans.

He said: "It will mean less people come here.

"If you come every day for a little walk, it's £1.20 a day.

"It's a tax on the people of the Wirral, short-sighted council officers and councillors looking at a way to get revenue for the council and they are short-sightedly thinking this is the solution.

"People are already struggling and they just won't come".

Liz Grey, Wirral council environment and transport committee chairperson, previously said the council was going to have to make "very difficult choices about what we want to do with other libraries and leisure services and various other things if we don’t stop subsidising car parking to the tune of £300,000 a year".

Carol Bowie said the charges would be "detrimental" to all businesses

Carol Bowie, who owns the Waiting Room café on Victoria Parade, said the charges would be "detrimental" and mean more people would look to park in the free areas of the town, potentially impacting businesses.

She said: "Some people may be able to afford to come out for lunch but can't afford the parking that's going to go on top of it and it will make them think twice.

"People who work in these businesses are worried about their jobs because they don't want to have to pay for parking to come to work, it's not right."

One visitor, named Tony, said: "As a family going to the beach you don't want to be worrying about going back to your car after four hours."

Charges are expected to be brought in for on-street parking bays in other places North Parade and Meols Parade in Hoylake and Meols, and South Parade in West Kirby but they said blue badge holders will not have to pay provided they display a valid badge.

The BBC approached Wirral Council who declined to comment while the consultation on the matter takes place until 23 October.