A new row has erupted between Cllr. Carl Cashman, Leader of the Liverpool Liberal Democrats, and Council Leader Cllr. Liam Robinson, over recent changes to night-time car parking charges in the city centre.
Cllr. Cashman has hit out at what he calls the city council’s “out of touch” plan to hike city centre parking charges, labelling the move “a tax” on the city’s night-time economy and its lowest-paid workers.
Cashman claims a review of Council Cabinet papers reveals the local authority aims to “balloon parking revenue from £3.8 million to a staggering £20 million” with the extension of parking enforcement into the late evening hours.
Cllr Cashman warns this is disproportionately impacting those workers who keep Liverpool running after dark and discourages visitors from using the city’s theatre, bar and restaurant scene.
Cllr Cashman said:
“To implement night-time charges when our public transport is unreliable and infrequent is a disgrace. It’s a tax on work and is putting workers’ safety at risk, particularly young female workers.
“I am calling on the Council to at least compromise in order to save hospitality in this city and change the night-time charges to end at 8pm, with a view to removing it altogether.”
The Labour leader of Liverpool City Council Cllr Liam Robinson hit back by saying:
“Liverpool Council controls just 28% of the car parks in the city centre, and our rates are often cheaper than those charged by private operators.
“We are working constructively with Liverpool Business Improvement District and others about how we can further improve parking options in the city centre.
“Listening to feedback from workers, residents and businesses we have increased the maximum stay from two to five hours after 6pm around the Hope Street area to better align with theatre, hospitality and workers late-shift patterns.
“We’re introducing a night tariff in both Victoria Street and Mount Pleasant car parks at just £3 to help shift workers”
Bill Addy, Chief Executive of Liverpool Business Improvement District added his thoughts:
“Liverpool’s night-time economy is a critical ingredient in the city’s economic prosperity and its brand. Last year, the number of late-night venues increased by 7.8%. This city’s nightlife is second only to London’s.
“These parking changes are impacting the ability of staff to travel home after working a late shift, have made recruitment and retention harder for businesses, and act as a deterrent to visitors, affecting footfall.
“The majority of other UK cities do not charge for on-street parking after 6pm so we have urged the Council to follow suit and reverse their plans for the post-6pm charge.
“If they are unwilling to do that, we suggest the introduction of a fair, transparent, affordable flat-rate tariff effective from 6pm onwards, especially around the Hope Street and Duke Street areas.”
