Thousands fined after end of free evening parking in Liverpool city centre

Local TV

More than seven thousand drivers received penalty notices in the first three months of extended parking charges, as Liverpool City Council moved forward with plans to enforce paid parking until eleven at night across key city centre streets.

Transcript

00:00If you've parked in Liverpool's city centre recently, you may already know the rules have

00:04changed.

00:05After years of debate, and despite almost 90% of respondents opposing the idea during

00:10consultation, the city now requires drivers to pay for parking until 11 at night.

00:16And the impact has been immediate, with new figures confirming more than 7,000 people

00:20were fined in the first three months of enforcement.

00:24The data was released through a Freedom of Information request.

00:27It shows that between August and October, the highest number of fines were issued on Hope

00:32Street, where 385 drivers received penalty notices.

00:38Business owners there said they're frustrated by the change, saying it's caused a noticeable

00:43drop in pre-theatre customers.

00:45The next most affected areas were Duke Street, where 378 motorists were fined, and Old Hall

00:51Street with 264 penalties.

00:55Customers can no longer leave their cars free of charge on city streets after 6 in the evening,

01:00following the upgrade of signs and pay and display machines across the controlled parking

01:04zone.

01:05Liverpool's City Council says the overhaul was necessary to respond to growth in the city

01:10centre and an expanding night-time economy.

01:13In a statement, the Council said the changes are intended to reduce congestion, improve

01:18safety and support bet-over turnover of spaces for residents, businesses and visitors.

01:24Revenues from enforcement are expected to reach almost £240,000 until parking behaviour adjusts.

01:31And the Council said the running costs are covered by existing budgets.

01:35For drivers, businesses and the Council, the coming months may show whether the new system

01:41settles in or whether the debate continues.

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