Free parking at 22 car parks looks set to end

Fort Perch Rock Car Park in New Brighton is one of the venues where free parking is set to be scrapped

A council is planning to start charging for parking at 22 car parks and on several streets.

Changes that look set to be brought in by Wirral Council mean parking on certain car parks and streets will not be free until after 20:00 BST.

The plans were shelved by the Labour council in 2022 but now look likely to go through after they faced no opposition from the Conservatives or Liberal Democrats.

The scheme has drawn opposition from residents concerned at the impact on businesses, and parking being displaced to outside people's homes.

'Very difficult choices'

The plans have been resurrected in a bid to help balance the council's budget and meet a £300,000 shortfall.

The council is also increasing current car parking charges to £1.20 an hour and £6 for over four hours.

A £1 charge will be made between 18:30 and 20:00 BST.

Wirral council environment and transport committee chairperson Liz Grey 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".

As well as at the 22 currently-free car parks, charges are expected to be brought in for on-street parking bays in places including Kings Parade and Coastal Drive in New Brighton, North Parade and Meols Parade in Hoylake and Meols, and South Parade in West Kirby.

Blue badge holders will not have to pay for parking provided they display a valid badge, the council said.