PROPOSALS to retain free car parking until August in Wirral have been revealed.

Council-run car parks across the borough have been free to use during the lockdown, but this was due to end on Wednesday.

However Labour councillor Julie McManus, Wirral's cabinet member for community services, said she is pushing to extend this for up to a month to support shops as they reopen.

Cllr McManus said: "I think it is really important that we do everything we can to support our smaller businesses, it has been a difficult time for them and if we can help ease the pressure by keeping our car parks free of charge perhaps for another month then I sincerely hope we can do that.

"This will cost the council between £35,000 and £50,000 in lost income, but I do believe that it’s worth it.

"For every £1 spent locally the economic impact for that business is worth an additional 63p.

"I would therefore encourage all residents to support our local businesses and high streets."

If the move goes ahead all council car parks, on street parking and country parks will be included.

It is hoped the move could form part of the council's community wealth building approach, which seeks to have as much of the ‘Wirral pound’ as possible spent inside the borough.

Fellow Labour councillor Janette Williamson, cabinet member for finance, said she wholeheartedly supports the drive to extend the free parking period.

Last month, Wirral Council’s Conservative group called for the local authority to make free parking permanent in the borough.

Tory councillor Jenny Johnson, who represents West Kirby and Thurstaston, said: "The council took the right step in suspending parking charges, now it’s time to make that permanent.

"By encouraging more people to shop locally, we can reduce the car journeys to out-of-town supermarkets and also help to keep more money in our local communities."