The organisation supporting hundreds of businesses across Liverpool has reacted to the city council’s plans to shake-up its on street parking offer.
Free parking in Liverpool city centre after 6pm could be scrapped under new plans put forward by the local authority. Liverpool Council yesterday launched a month-long consultation on the future of on-street parking in the city centre in a bid to modernise the provision and improve congestion and air quality.
The engagement exercise is asking for public views on the city’s controlled parking zone (CPZ) - a regulated area where on-street parking is restricted by law between the hours of 8am to 6pm. Under new proposals put forward, charges at public pay and display and other parking bays would be enforced between 7am to 11pm.
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In addition, fees to park within the CPZ would increase by 10p per half hour. In a statement issued this morning, Bill Addy, chief executive of the Liverpool BID Company, said it was time the city had a conversation about car use and safe parking.
He said: “We’d urge all of our Levy Payers to respond to this consultation and share their views. It’s time, as a city, that we talk about car use and safe parking.
"We know the challenges facing the public finances, we are also mindful of the challenges our city centre businesses are facing. Businesses should always have a say and make sure they are a part of the vital conversations shaping the city’s future.”
Funded by a levy on local businesses, the organisation has around 1,000 members and was first set up in 2005. Currently, 30 minutes parking in the city centre costs £1.20, this would go up to £1.30.
Up to an hour would increase to £2.50 from £2.40. Parking times for pay and display bays would also be limited to a maximum stay of two hours, with no return within an hour.
The local authority said the proposed extension of the charging period is aimed at creating more spaces for those holding resident and business permits. An increase by 10p per half hour would help to cover the cost of the changes required and contribute to the ongoing operation and enforcement, according to Liverpool Council and would be “significantly lower” than other core cities throughout the UK.
The closing date for responses to the consultation is 5pm on Monday December 12. It can be found on the Liverpool Council website, or a physical copy can be accessed at Central Library, William Brown Street.
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