Parking survey 'just ticking a box' - opposition

A public consultation over changes to city centre parking was a "tick-box exercise" which ignored local people, an opposition leader has said.

Liverpool City Council approved plans to remove free on-street parking after 18:00 despite almost 90% of about 1200 respondents to a public consultation opposing the change.

Liberal Democrat leader Carl Cashman said it showed the Labour-led council was "not listening to local people".

Labour council cabinet member Dan Barrington said plans had been adjusted to address feedback.

Liverpool City Council's highways and public spaces representations committee approved the latest plans for city centre parking on Thursday.

"We've seen 90% of respondents against this proposal and Labour still pressing ahead," Cashman said.

"The Labour party looks at a consultation exercise as something that they've got to do to tick box on a piece of paper."

He said the "blanket approach" could potentially spell the end of many small businesses in Liverpool city centre, adding night-time workers "have got no other way to get into the city because public transport is terrible in Liverpool".

"We've got provide those public services, the buses, and we haven't got at the moment," he said.

He said "at the very least" should introduce a night-time fee which is lower than the daytime rate.

Transport cabinet member Barrington said the consultation had covered a range of measures around city centre controlled parking zones and changes were made during the consultation period.

"The council has adjusted the proposals to address feedback particularly from local businesses," he said.

"Some of those changes include increasing the maximum stay in the Hope Street area from two hours to four hours, introducing shared use bays after 6pm for disabled residents and pay and display on single yellow lines in a number of locations."

He said he understood there would be a "big change" for people seeking parking options, adding: "There are a range of car parks within the city centre that charge different prices and people will need to look at the right arrangements for them to get to and from work."

The charges will be introduced at the beginning of June.

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