Full list of streets where free parking is about to end as pay-and-display blitz hits Wirral

Full details of the council's controversial plans for new parking charges are contained in a document seen by the Globe.

Along with imposing pay-and-display at country parks and New Brighton Fort Perch Rock, more than 50 streets currently enjoying free parking have been earmarked for charging.

They include Market Street in Hoylake; South Parade, West Kirby; Heswall’s Telegraph Road; Seaview Road in Liscard and Hoylake Road in Moreton. A full list is published below.

The ruling Labour group say they need to raise extra cash to top-up threadbare budgets following Government cuts.

Tories warn the move will destroy the borough's outlying shopping areas by driving custom elsewhere.

Labour group transport chief Cllr Stuart Whittingham said: "The council has been absolutely clear that Wirral has to reduce its spending or raise its income by £45m next year and by £130m before 2020.

"These small increases in charging will go some way towards mitigating the impact of these cuts.

"We are consulting with residents on the proposals to change car parking tariffs.

"We are following the legal process by publicising traffic regulation orders in local newspapers, giving residents the opportunity to give us their views.

"All feedback we receive will be taken into account before any decisions are made.

"Any issues with proposals for car parking in New Brighton will also be reviewed as part of this process."

But Conservative councillor Chris Blakeley said: “I am astounded Wirral Labour want to introduce parking charges in our struggling shopping areas. 

"We have all seen the decline of Liscard because of parking charges - we don’t want to see that replicated across the borough.

“Instead of wasting £247,000 on a monthly newspaper and up to now over £850,000 on their pet Hoylake golf resort scheme, they would be better investing in our towns and shopping areas to make them more viable and vibrant.

“Introducing car parking charges will destroy our town centre shopping areas by driving custom away to areas where car parking is free.”

The council will raise extra cash by:

• Increasing fees by 50p per hour in existing car parks.

• Charging for on-street parking in West Wirral.

• Introducing pay and display at Fort Perch Rock in New Brighton.

• Bringing in a new £4 a day parking charge for Wirral's country parks.

• Imposing charges at nine other locations across the borough.

Country Parks affected are:

• Arrowe Country Park

• Pensby and Thingwall

• Eastham 

• Royden

• Thurstaston

There are plans to start charging for parking where it is currently free in the following locations.

West Kirby:

• South Parade

• Banks Road

• The Crescent

• Grange Road

The report said charges in this area will raise around £60,000 a year.

Hoylake:

• Market Street

• Station Road

• Albert Road

• Charles Road car park

• Carr Lane car park

Annual income:£40,000.

Heswall:

• Telegraph Road

• Pye Road

• The Mount

• May Road

• Milner Road

• Rocky Lane South car park

Income: £40,000. 

Liscard:

• Seaview Road

• Liscard Village

• Wallasey Road

• Mill Lane

• Liscard Road

• Manor Road car park

Income £60,000.

Bromborough:

• Allport Lane

• Bromborough Village Road

• High Street

• Allport Lane car park

Income: £30,000.

Bebington:

• Bromborough Road

• Church Road car park

Income £30,000. 

Irby:

• Thingwall Road

• Manor Road

• Roslin Road car park

Income: £30,000.

Upton:

• Rake Lane

• Arrowe Park Road 

Income: £40,000. 

Moreton:

• Hoylake Road

• Oakenholt Road

• Pasture Road

• Chadwick Street

• Barnston Lane

• Upton Road

• Holt Avenue car park

• Garden Lane car park

Income: £40,000.

The proposals will be discussed by the council's business overview and scrutiny committee when it meets next Tuesday.

LEGAL POSITION:

Legally, income from off-street parking can be used in other budget areas.

However income from on-street parking is restricted to the cost of enforcement, contributing to off-street parking provision and, "if the provision of further off-street parking is unnecessary or undesirable, contributing to the following activities":

Costs of public passenger transport services; highway improvement projects; environmental improvements.