Steve Atkins, Parking Services Manager, introduced a report which provided an update on the income generated from parking charges at the Country Parks.

Since charging was introduced in the week commencing 22 January 2018, the total income received up to 31 December 2018 was £168,000. This included £27,100 from the sale of 542 annual parking permits. The annual parking permits could be used in any vehicle and in any of the Country Parks so represented value for money for regular park users. The total number of transactions (parking tickets purchased) was approximately 139,000 for the same period. This patronage at car parks didn’t directly reflect on visitor numbers as driving / parking habits might have changed since the introduction of the parking charges.

To date £100,000 had been spent or committed to maintenance and improvements at the Country Parks which could be related to car parking, e.g. resurfacing of the car park at Arrowe Country Park.

These proposals had met the predicted increased income to the Council of £150,000 p.a. which had been included in the Council budget for future years.

If parking charges were removed from the Country Parks then this would result in a deficit in the Council’s approved financial plan for future years of over £150,000 which would need to be covered by compensatory savings or income from other service areas.

Further information had also been circulated to the Committee which included a comparison of the estimated / predicted costs with the actual outcomes and this information was up to and including 18 January, 2019.

The report recommended that the contents were noted, that charging for parking at the Country Parks remained and that the impact of the charges on traffic management issues was continually monitored.

Councillor Chris Blakeley stated that the Conservative Group was totally opposed to car parking charges in country parks as the Council should be encouraging people to attend parks and open spaces to benefit the physical and mental health of residents. 

A  Member commented upon the detrimental impact to businesses at Eastham Country Park and that not one business in the vicinity had been contacted by the Authority.

Another Member suggested that visitor numbers should be looked at over the next 3 years or so to see if numbers increased or decreased. Council policies were not made in isolation and the country parks did need a certain amount of upkeep which could be paid for through the parking charges.

Responding to comments from Members, Steve Atkins stated that with regard to Wirral Country Park at Thurstaston, the only contact he had had was from the Park Rangers and the owner of the coffee shop but not in respect of any negative impact of the parking charges. With regard to visitor number statistics there had been approximately 146,500 transactions through the pay and display machines but these were not an indication of visitor numbers. It would be possible to undertake some visitor number surveys. There had been no formal assessment on the impact on businesses but there were ways and means to offer support to businesses.

A Member commented upon the discrepancy between some areas of Wirral, such as New Brighton and the Croft Retail Park not having any parking charges and other areas where there were charges. There was a need to encourage the use of public transport and for an increase in the areas accessible by public transport which would discourage the use of cars and be healthier for the environment.

Another Member referred to the need to look at the effect on businesses of reduced footfall from the car parking charges and that if businesses closed the Council would suffer a loss of business rates.

Councillor Dave Mitchell then moved –

“Committee notes that the findings reported in section 3.7 and 3.8 relate to firm opinions expressed at a meeting between local business owners, ward members and Councillor Sullivan (the then Chair of this Committee) on 11 July, 2018.

Committee also now appreciates the diversion of parking in other locations in the vicinity of the country park, has continued with the impact on Ferry Road, increased usage of the Leverhulme Pavilion car park and locations such as Torr Drive, Tebay Road (and within the car park of B&M) plus Riverwood Road.

Committee must understand the adverse effect that this has had on the local businesses who add so much to the visitor economy.

Committee recommends to Cabinet that the impact on the local business community should now be given the same consideration as other areas where plans for charges were dropped due to their impact.”

The motion was not seconded.

It was moved by Councillor Tom Usher, seconded by Councillor Jean Stapleton, that –

“(1) Committee notes that the considerations of residents and local businesses and their contribution to the local economy should be valued and given serious consideration in any decision.

(2) The committee notes that the country car parking charges have operated for a year and commits to monitoring the effects of country car parking charges in the coming months.

(3) Committee recommends that the  Cabinet look at ways in which the effects of the country car parking charges can be minimised for local businesses and residents. We ask that any business support be given in order to assist with the transition and that the highways department look at implementing measures to ease the effects on the roads around country parks. We also ask that the extension of public transport to country parks be looked at.”

It was moved as an amendment by Councillor Chris Blakeley and seconded by Councillor Steve Williams, that –

“This Committee notes that the introduction of parking charges at our country parks has had a negative impact on visitors which has had a knock effect on business.

This Committee notes that the loss of income if charges were scrapped could be recovered by ceasing the production and distribution of its newspaper, the Wirral View.

Therefore this Committee requests Cabinet / Council to scrap parking charges at Wirral’s country parks and make up the shortfall in revenue by ceasing production and distribution of the Wirral View to ensure our country parks can be accessed by all free of charge.”

The amendment was put and lost (6:7). (Councillors Bruce Berry, Chris Blakeley, Tony Cox, David Elderton and Steve Williams voting in favour – Councillor Chris Blakeley having requested that the Conservative Members’ votes be recorded)

The motion was put and carried (7:6).

Resolved – That –

(1)  Committee notes that the considerations of residents and local businesses and their contribution to the local economy should be valued and given serious consideration in any decision.

(2)  The committee notes that the country car parking charges have operated for a year and commits to monitoring the effects of country car parking charges in the coming months.

(3)  Committee recommends that the Cabinet look at ways in which the effects of the country car parking charges can be minimised for local businesses and residents. We ask that any business support be given in order to assist with the transition and that the highways department look at implementing measures to ease the effects on the roads around country parks. We also ask that the extension of public transport to country parks be looked at.