Don't make Formby car park pay and display urge councillors

Local businesses are being put at risk by proposed charges at Sumner Road say protestors as Burbo Bank charging goes ahead

Sefton Council will tonight be urged not to instal pay and display meters at a busy car park in Formby .

The Labour run authority is keen to make shoppers pay to leave their vehicles at the car park on Sumner Road, near Formby Village, which is currently free.

Councillors say they have little choice as they look to balance the books at a time of huge cuts in funding from central government.

But the decision to make shoppers visiting Formby Village make up some of the shortfall has been ‘called in’ by politicians in the town - who say it could devastate local businesses.

Council leaders recently changed their mind on imposing charges at their Verulam Road Car Park, next to the Botanic Gardens in Churchtown, after opposition from local residents. It is hoped they may also be encouraged to perform a second u-turn in Formby.

Planned charges at Burbo Bank, overlooking Crosby Beach, will however go ahead.

Formby councillor Denise Dutton, the deputy leader of Sefton Conservative Group, said: “There is a lack of consistency in relation to the officers’ recommendation to proceed with the introduction of parking charges in Sumner Road, Formby but not to proceed with those in Verulam Road and the Botanic Gardens.

“The criteria of representations having been received and the consequential effects of introducing such proposals on the traders / residents in the locality also applies to Sumner Road, Formby.

“I also have written evidence that the proposed introduction of parking charges would severely affect the traders’ livelihood and thus the commercial viability of Formby Village as a whole.”

The meeting to decide the scheme will take place at a Special Meeting of Sefton’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regeneration and Skills), at Bootle Town Hall from 6.30pm this evening (Tuesday, September 29).

Making Sumner Road car park pay and display would cost £28,000; £1,000 for legal and administrative costs, plus £27,000 for machine purchase and installation. Charges have not yet been prescribed but council officers say is likely that they will match the existing charges currently in place at the car parks in Waterloo, which are:

Up to 30 mins 20p

Up to 2 hours 90p

Up to 4 hours £1.70

Over 4 hours £3.40

Officers say that if the introduction of charges leads to parking being displaced on adjacent streets, then consideration will be given to painting yellow lines or making other parking restrictions on any streets affected.

Charges would be in place between 8am and 6pm, seven days a week.

Formby councillor Maria Bennett, of the Formby Residents Action Group, is also speaking against pay and display being introduced.

She said: “There is a clear lack of consistency with regard to the parking charges to be imposed in the borough. You clearly consulted on a Traffic Regulation Order for Verulam Road and the Botanic Gardens and decided not to proceed due to representations received and consequential effects that such proposals would have on the residents in the locality of the Botanic Gardens and Verulam Road, yet you have failed to offer the same consultation process for Formby residents.

“This is clearly inconsistent and also discriminates against Formby residents and traders.

“There has been a clear lack of public consultation with regard to the parking charges and indeed correspondence states that should parking charges be implemented then the widest public consultation would be carried out.

“There is clear evidence (documented) which shows the impact parking charges have had on local businesses who had to close their doors when the other car park at Furness Avenue was made into a pay and display and whose takings dropped by up to 50%.

"Evidence clearly shows where councils are penalising motorists unfairly puts small shops at risk.

“Parking charges and parking fines should not be used as a fundraising exercise for councils and should only be implemented in order to keep traffic flowing and ease congestion. This is not the case with Sumner Road and indeed will only increase congestion in the surrounding areas as has already been shown since Furness Avenue has become a pay and display car park. This will have a direct impact on the local residents.

“Ensuring a free car park for the village ensures a regular footfall to the traders operating from the village. By introducing parking charges evidence shows that people will move to online shopping or out of town shopping where parking is free in order not to be penalised for shopping locally.

“It is showing discrimination against small traders operating in villages and towns whose patrons have to pay for parking and the larger national companies benefit from free car parking facilities in out of town shopping areas. This is clear discrimination.”

Story source: Southport Visiter