One of Liverpool's most prominent chefs and restaurant bosses has warned that the city council's controversial proposals for parking charges in the city centre could be "catastrophic" for businesses.
As part of its budget plans, Liverpool Council is currently consulting on scrapping free parking around the city centre after 6pm. Currently the charging period for parking is from 8am until 6pm but the new plans could see this change to 7am until 11pm. There could also be a small increase in the amount charged per half hour of parking.
The council says the plans are aimed at "modernising on-street car parking" and reducing congestion but Paul Askew, chef patron of the popular Art School restaurant, based near Hardman Street, says it could be devastating for an already struggling hospitality sector in the city.
