WIRRAL businesses say they have lost 20% of their customers due to controversial parking charges introduced earlier this year and fear they could be forced to close if the situation worsens.

Firms located around Eastham Country Park say the charges, which were introduced by Wirral Council earlier this year, are “killing” their profits, with park goers now avoiding the fees and instead leaving their vehicles in spaces meant for customers.

According to business owners gathered at the park on Monday, this means hundreds of frequent visitors to the area not using the park do not come any more as there is nowhere to leave their car.

The impact has been described as “devastating”, but the council has said the fees are necessary, and that it will continue to work with the businesses and “offer any support we can”.

Karen James-Hunt, owner of Eastham Woods Boarding Cattery, located next door to the park, said: “These business exist independently despite the country park.

“Most people who come down here come to buy an ice cream or have lunch – they don’t go into the country park – but they’re being penalized for parking here now. A lot of them may have disabilities, and may just want to sit here and watch the view over the Mersey, but cannot do it anymore.

“My customers should not have to pay to use a car park to drop off or pick up their cats.

“I fear that the fact there are charges might influence my customers’ decision of whether to bring their cats here.”

Ms James-Hunt added that neither she nor the other businesses in the area were consulted by the council ahead of the charges being introduced.

Patricia Gibson-Saxty has been at the helm of the Mimosa Tea Garden for 46 years, and said the charges could see her start closing during the winter.

She said: “There’s a lot of anger about the charges. People are still coming in and complaining – they are aggrieved. I meet old customers around the Wirral and they say they’re not coming down any more out of principle.”

She said that has meant a drop in business of around 20%, adding: “It’s difficult enough to attract visitors to a country park in winter, and because of the charges we may have to start closing during that season now.

“In summer people are still coming but not as many. If people are unsure whether to make the journey, they will just leave it when they remember there are now charges.”

The location has for years been one frequented by scores of motorbikes, but that too has stopped because of the displaced parkers.

Cllr Chris Carubia, ward member for Eastham, said the charges were “changing the nature of the area for locals and visitors alike”, and had had a “devastating” impact.

He explained: “This area has for many years been a bikers’ destination supported by visitors who come to view the bikes.

“The imposed parking charges have emptied the car park and filled Ferry Road with vehicles, stopping the bikers from being able to visit. They were once part of the atmosphere and soul of this place. People would come from miles around just to look at them.”

He said he was told that on a busy Sunday last month, the Eastham Ferry Hotel, which owns 25 private spaces, had a full car park but no customers due to them all being taken by park users.

Lynda Mackey owns The Tap Pub, which, before the charges were introduced, was frequented by bikers for years.

But she said that has now all changed, adding: “We would like these charges taken away. It has had an affect on my business, which has gone down by about 20%.”

Although there are currently no plans to introduce double yellow lines along the street to fight the new-found congestion in the area, she said that potential move would “totally kill off my business”.

Cllr Carubia also said with the decision to cancel the controversial parking charges in coastal locations, there is now even more reason to scrap those at country parks.

Cllr Dave Mitchell added: “The effect on businesses has been dramatic since the implementation of the charges.

“Not one of them was notified by the authority prior to them being installed. They were an afterthought, but we will fight and fight again to make sure the businesses get the best answer to the questions being posed by these charges.”

Responding to the concerns, a Wirral council spokesman said: “The money raised from car parking goes directly towards supporting the maintenance and upkeep of the parks. Finding ways to continue funding basic services like this – while our budget continues to reduce every year – is extremely difficult and we therefore have to look at other ways of keeping the parks open and available for local residents.

“We will continue to work with local businesses and offer any support we can.”