In a dramatic last minute decision, Wirral’s outgoing Cabinet has agreed with demands from local Conservative Councillors to delay the reintroduction of parking charges on the Borough’s high streets and country parks.
The Cabinet had announced a plan to reintroduce charges from 3 August but, at tonight’s meeting of the Environment Committee, the decision was scrapped.
Councillor Lesley Rennie attended the meeting and spoke in favour of shops and small businesses in Liscard: "The economic recovery for many small businesses in Wallasey has yet to begin.
"They were kept afloat with the help of the Government's grants - now would have been the wrong time to start hitting them with parking charges."
The decision was ‘called in’ for further scrutiny by Cllr. Jenny Johnson and the Conservative Group, following concerns that charges could be the final nail in the coffin for a still-struggling high street.
Cllr. Johnson said: “I would like to thank those traders and shop keepers who have contacted me since this decision was first published.
“It’s clear that parking charges are a drag on our local economic recovery. The Cabinet’s decision to halt their decision will be a relief to many of our small businesses.”
Any reintroduction of parking charges will now be considered by the Council’s new, all-party Policy & Resources Committee that is being introduced from September 2020.
Councillor Tom Anderson, Chair of the Environment Committee, added: “Thanks to the actions of Cllr Johnson and her colleagues, Wirral’s economy will be given a bit more breathing space after tonight. There are jobs, apprenticeships and, of course, future Business Rates, that are depending on a recovery.”
