Everton stadium parking restrictions reintroduced

Local businesses have raised concerns about parking restrictions hitting trade

Moving home is always a complicated affair. You have to box up all your things, move all those treasured memories to your new location and settle in.

Then there is also the small matter of finding somewhere to park. It's unusual, you're used to having your normal spot.

Since leaving Goodison Park after 133 years in May, this has been the case for Everton as they prepare to call the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Regent Road their new home for decades to come.

Next weekend, the ground will operate at full capacity for the first time when the men's first team play their inaugural official match against AS Roma.

With this will come about 52,000 fans making their way by any means necessary to the stadium.

While some matchday traditions will change, many supporters will still look to hop in their car on the way to watch the Blues.

However, a raft of changes to the controversial parking scheme surrounding the footprint of Bramley-Moore Dock have been reintroduced after being paused earlier this year.

The parking zone was halted following a backlash from businesses and residents over the impact of the scheme.

More than 4,000 residents and 3,000 businesses have been asked to apply for the relevant parking permits to comply with what is called an Experimental Traffic Order (ETRO).

The ETRO will run for an initial 18-month period.

Non-event day parking

After consultation with representatives from those living and working around the Hill Dickinson Stadium footprint, the city council has confirmed it has changed the operation of the parking zone in time for the final test event next month.

This includes the introduction of non-event day parking restrictions and extending waiting limits to up to four hours when Everton are not playing.

Around Esk Street, Juniper Street and Blackstone Street, event day restrictions will remain in place, requiring drivers to leave within two hours.

Around Walter Street, Ten Streets and Love Lane, permit parking will be required as these have been designated as business locations.

Up to four hours' parking will be permitted on non-event days.

Some business owners warned that the original measures could lead to closures, prompting dozens to protest at Blackstock Market in March and urge the council to reconsider.

Following consultation during the pausing of the scheme since then, the city council has said additional parking bays will be introduced to support businesses and community venues.

Blue badge parking bays will also be installed on Regent Road.

Event day parking rules

An event day will typically be any sporting or non-sporting event at the new stadium with 10,000 or more attendees.

The council's traffic manager can also apply event day rules for events at the stadium with fewer than 10,000 attendees or that are taking place at other locations like Goodison Park, Anfield or the city centre, where there is a need to manage parking.

The dates of upcoming events will be displayed on signs next to the parking bays and at the entry points to Permit Parking Areas.

Letters detailing the full scheme and parking permit application guidance have now been delivered to all addresses within the ETRO boundary.

Applications for more than 10 business permits will continue to be accepted on a case-by-case basis.

Ongoing review

The council said it would continue to review the ETRO for the next six months, to allow for any further modifications.

Following that review period, officials will then consider making the traffic order permanent.

Business owners told the Local Democracy Reporting Service last month how the changes to the scheme were an "improvement but not enough."

Councillor Dan Barrington, cabinet member for transport and connectivity, said the refinements reflected input from residents and businesses and the authority would "continue to listen, monitor and review the scheme to establish if any further modifications will be needed".

"Our goal is to strike the right balance between matchday operations and everyday life in the neighbourhood," he said.

"I would like to thank the local community for its ongoing cooperation as we finalise arrangements for safe, efficient matchday traffic management."