MEASURES aimed at preventing a repeat of the vans parking on New Brighton promenade will come into effect later this month.

An ‘Experimental Traffic Regulation Order’ will see a ban on overnight parking on Kings Parade from April 17, between 11pm and 6am, the council has confirmed.

The order will be enforced by the authority's parking contractor, NSL Services.

West Wallasey Van Hire had come under fire recently for parking its vehicles along King’s Parade on the town’s seafront with around 100 regularly found parked there according to people in the area. 

The company had issued a full statement apologising saying this was due to the sudden return of rental vehicles as supply issues were resolved.

It has now moved all of its vehicles from New Brighton to a former gas works site off Dock Road in Seacombe and signed a number of leases with the council to use its land and car parks.

One signed in December 2023 allows the firm to park its vehicles within the Solar Campus on Leasowe Road until 2026. Two others signed for parcels of land off Dock Road will allow West Wallasey vehicles to also be parked there until 2026.

The firm will now also pay £70,000 a year for the next two years to use the gas works site which has been designated for regeneration development in the long term. The four leases signed with the council in total add up to £100,000.

Wallasey councillor Ian Lewis said: "Once again, Wirral Council is having to put in measures to deal with the actions of others, in this case, West Wallasey Van Hire.

“By introducing this order now, it means the promenade will be available to residents and visitors throughout the summer and at least for the next 18 months, without losing 150 spaces to long term van parking.

“After that, the order could be made permanent, depending on the results of this experimental order.”

Comments can be submitted on-line at www.wirral.gov.uk/highways (“Submit comments, questions or objections about new highway schemes in Wirral”) quoting the scheme reference number: TO/24/03

Alternatively, letters can be sent to the Senior Network Manager, Neighbourhood Services, PO Box 290, Brighton Street, Wallasey quoting the scheme reference number: TO/24/03

A spokesperson for Wirral Council said:  "The experimental traffic order is being put in place to tackle overnight parking in the Coastal Drive and Kings Parade area.

"The order is a temporary parking order to assess whether this approach can be effective, and follows requests that such a measure be put in place to ensures sufficient parking spaces are available to members of the community and visitors.

"Throughout the period the order is in place people will be able to comment on the measure and these responses will be used when councillors review the order and decide whether or not to keep the parking restriction, or try alternative measures in future."