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Parking charges 'straw that broke camel's back'

Andy Gill,Liverpooland
Jonny Humphries,North West
BBC North West reporter Andy Gill explains the legal challenge Liverpool council faces

Hospitality bosses in Liverpool have described scrapping free evening parking as the "straw that broke the camel's back" for the industry.

Liverpool City Council is facing a legal challenge over its decision last year to reduce free parking from between 18:00 and 08:00 to between 23:00 and 07:00, while also increasing fees.

Business owners told the BBC that since the change came in they have struggled to recruit lower paid staff and that lone female workers have been left feeling vulnerable leaving their shifts in the early hours.

The council said it was satisfied it had acted "lawfully and properly".

The upcoming legal challenge clams the charges must be imposed for "legitimate traffic management purposes", such as managing traffic flow, rather than primarily to generate money for the council.

It will also argue that the council failed to properly to consider the impact on women in the night-time economy.

Peter Schriewersmann, from the Liverpool Hospitality Association, said: "The guests that come into the city now have to pay an additional £6 to £8 on top of their meal.

"It discourages from coming, it's the straw that broke the camel's back for us to be frank."

A view of a busy outdoor seating area through a metal fence. Dozens of young people sit drinking, while some of the tables also have shisha pipes.
The night-time economy in Liverpool is worth an estimated £1.5bn annually

It is estimated that across the Liverpool City region, the night-time economy is worth £1.5bn pounds annually.

But Oliver Clarke, managing director of late night bar firm Baa Baa group, said the charges were putting additional strain on low-paid workers.

"People who work in the day time, if they've got office jobs, they're probably on a bit more money," he said.

"We've got a team that are on minimum wage, their first two hours is going on parking."

Stuart Newnes, from Broadeaves Security, said security staff were also feeling the pinch.

A man in his 40s, with short light brown hair, a grey beard and a large tattoo on his neck, speaks to the camera in front of a large brick building lined with posters. He is wearing a black zip-up fleece.
Security manager Stuart Newnes said "experienced lads" were opting to work outside the city centre

"Not a lot of people want to come into the city centre to work because if they work in the outer areas they don't have to pay for parking, or parking is cheaper," he said.

"So the experienced lads are working now out of town."

The council pressed ahead with the decision to extend parking charges despite 90% of people who were consulted saying they were against the move.

Businessman and former councillor Alfie Hincks said lone female workers were more likely to try and use public transport in the early hours of the morning.

"No disrespect to public transport," he said.

"It's a necessity but when it's two, three o'clock in the morning, a girl that's coming home on her own, she feels vulnerable."

A court date has not yet been set for the challenge.

Liverpool Council said it would respond to any legal claim but could not comment further at this stage.

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