CAMPAIGNERS in Prenton want to stop plans they say will "dramatically increase" parking permit charges in the borough.

Currently, many of Wirral's residents' parking permits are free, while three zones, Manor Lane in Wallasey, Heath Drive in Heswall and the roads behind New Brighton's Floral Pavilion, charge £10 per year.

But in a bid to raise £110,000, Wirral Council is planning to standardise charges across the borough, in plans which will help to cover running and enforcement costs according to the authority's budget papers.

The council needs to save money and raise income, as it must find £20m to address its budget black hole, with two damning government reports published last November saying the authority must spend less on leisure services.

The cuts plan, which could change following a public consultation and further council meetings, would see 11 libraries, Woodchurch Leisure Centre and two public golf courses closed down.

Julienne McGeough, a Prenton resident, is leading a push to stop new parking permit charges coming in.

Ms McGeough said: "One of the proposals council officers have put forward is to dramatically increase the charges for resident parking permits.

"This would be applied to the residents in the roads around Tranmere Rovers Football Club.

"Given that the club is an important asset for the whole of Wirral, not just the area of Prenton where the ground is situated, and attracts fans throughout the peninsula, this appears to be an unfair charge on residents here."

While no decision has yet been made on whether new charges will come in and how large they will be, Ms McGeough, a Labour Party activist, has launched an online petition (https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-wirral-council-increasing-trfc-parking-permit-charges) to ask the council to reconsider the plans.

She thought the plans were "unfair" and penalised families already struck by the cost of living crisis.

A Wirral Council spokesperson said: "There is currently a budget proposal for the Standardisation of Residents Parking Permits being considered by councillors.

"This proposal will look to standardise charges for residents parking permits for existing and new residents parking schemes to cover all operational running costs including the council's set-up, maintenance, administration, and enforcement costs for existing and new schemes.

"Currently the council has historical resident only parking schemes in many locations and permits are currently free.

"There are a small number of resident parking zones where charges fall far short of the current costs."

The spokesperson added: "This is a non-statutory service, but there is a high level of demand from residents and members to introduce and manage these schemes across the borough.

"At present no final decisions on any of the budget proposals have been made.

"The next step will be for members of the council’s cross-party Policy and Resources Committee to consider these proposals before a final decision on the budget will be made by all members of the council."