Drivers in North England could see free parking measure axed - 'It will be a nightmare!'

Residents will see a rise in costs for parking schemes with a new £1 overnight parking fee proposed for all council-owned facilities between 6.30pm and 8am.

The changes will impact 22 council-owned car parks and on-street parking bays where charges already apply.

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The parking measures which could come into effect on October 28 could see drivers pay:

Up to one hour – £1.20

Up to two hours – £2.40

Up to three hours – £3.60

Up to four hours – £4.80

Over four hours – £6

Car park permit for traders – £720 per year

Wirral Country Park Permit – £120 per year

The changes aim to address traffic management and congestion issues and ensure regular turnover of parking spaces throughout Wirral but will impact over 300,000 residents living in the area.

To combat the impact on drivers, the local authority has launched a consultation on the proposed changes, running for four weeks until October 25.

The council argued that charging will ensure future public parking provision is "self-financing and equitable” but will see drivers pay the price.

Blue Badge holders will remain exempt from parking charges, provided they clearly display their badge.

The proposed changes come as part of a broader strategy to modernise parking in Wirral which has not been updated since 2017.

But the move has been met with mixed views by residents with one person sharing: “Cars will park down the side roads, over people’s driveways it will be a nightmare people only want to pop to the local shop in their local community. Greedy council.”

Another resident claimed: “Neighbours need to appeal against it the local community don't want our little shopping areas destroyed by greedy parking fees and fines.

“This is probably a strategy to sell off the libraries and create more residential homes that will kill off our community shops and help the giants grow in the croft.”

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Somebody else warned that the parking charges have been a long time coming, saying: “Free car parks have been changed to pay and display all over the country. Councils have been forced down this route by the erosion of central government funding over the last decade. They should've bitten the bullet years ago and introduced it, like the majority of councils.”

Following the consultation, the findings will be presented to the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee later this year. This committee will then make the final decision on implementing the proposed changes.

Notably, the committee will also determine whether to approve fee increases in areas where charges already exist, as these do not require public consultation.

As the consultation progresses, local drivers are encouraged to engage in the process and share their views on these significant parking reforms.