Parking is about to get less painful on the pocket for Liverpool motorists, with the launch of reduced charges at city centre pay-and-display bays.
The city council’s move to cut the cost of parking at city centre pay-and-display bays by almost 10 per cent, comes into effect on Friday 30 November, with an even bigger reduction being introduced at Mount Pleasant car park.
The reductions, which follow a public consultation exercise in September, bring the cost of parking at city centre pay-and-display bays in-line with where it stood in 2008. It’s set to give a big boost to businesses, shoppers and visitors, in the run-up to Christmas and beyond.
And as part of the changes, the maximum time vehicles can park at pay and display bays in the city centre is being increased from two hours to four.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “These changes will bring huge benefits to motorists, easing the burden on people’s pockets in tough economic times, as well as giving a boost to businesses by attracting more shoppers and visitors into the city centre.
“I’m delighted that these changes are being introduced in time for Christmas. This an important time of year for our retailers and it’s vital we do as much as we can to support them. By making parking more convenient and affordable, not just this Christmas, but throughout the year, we can make sure our city centre continues to thrive.”
Under the proposals, the cost for parking for 30 minutes at pay-and-display bays which fall within the ‘Inner Controlled Parking Zone’ (see table below) will drop from £1.10 to £1; up to one hour will be cut from £2.20 to £2; up to one hour and 30 minutes will be reduced from £3.30 to £3; and up to two hours will fall from £4.40 to £4. There will be a capped cost of £5 for parking for between two and four hours.
Costs are falling even more sharply at Mount Pleasant car park. From 30 November, parking for up to one hour will cost £1, down from £1.30; up to two hours will be £2, down from £2.60; up to three hours will fall to £3 from £3.90; and over three hours will be reduced to £4 from £5.20.
The maximum motorists will pay at Mount Pleasant is £4, meaning that motorists can park all day in the city centre, at one of Mount Pleasant’s 1,850 spaces, for just £4, set against the current all-day cost of £7.
People parking in car parks in the London Road area will also benefit from a 10 per cent reduction in charges (£1 for up to one hour, reduced from £1.10) with the maximum they will pay capped at £3.50 (for over three hours), a reduction from the current maximum of £5.
The changes aim to promote the use of the city centre’s parking bays by making them more affordable and convenient for shoppers and visitors. It forms part of a major, city-wide review into the city’s parking policy, with further proposed changes to be announced in the near future.
Liverpool City council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, Councillor Tim Moore, said: “The cuts to parking charges – the first we’ve made in a number of years – are aimed at making Liverpool city centre a more attractive destination.
“We think the reduced costs, along with longer maximum parking times, will be really welcomed by motorists, giving them more freedom and time to shop, eat, do business and visit attractions. It’s an important part of our wider review of all aspects of parking in this city.”
Ged Gibbons, Chief Executive of City Central and Commercial District BIDs, which represent more than 1,400 businesses in the city centre, said: ”Anything that strengthens the city centre’s appeal to visitors and shoppers, especially at Christmas, is to be welcomed.
“Car parking charges are a critical factor for our retail sector and the fact these cuts will encourage people to stay longer will hopefully have a positive knock on effect at the tills.”
The new parking tariffs at city centre pay-and-display bays are:
| Old Tariff | New Tariff |
| Up to 30 minutes£1.10
Up to 1 hour £2.20 Up to 1 hour 30 minutes £3.30 Up to 2 hours (max stay) £4.40 |
Up to 30 minutes£1.00
Up to 1 hour £2.00 Up to 1 hour 30 minutes £3.00 Up to 2 hours £4.00 Up to 4 hours (max stay) £5.00 |
The changes will only affect pay-and-display-bays which fall within the ‘Inner Controlled Parking Zone. These are at:
| BACK LEEDS STREET | DRURY LANE | MOORFIELDS | SEEL STREET |
| BERRY STREET | DUKE STREET | NEWINGTON STREET | SIR THOMAS STREET |
| BIXTETH STREET | EARLE STREET | NORTH JOHN STREET | SKELHORNE STREET |
| BOLD STREET | EAST STREET | OLD HALL STREET | SLATER STREET |
| BOLTON STREET | EDMUND STREET | OLD HAYMARKET | ST NICHOLAS PLACE |
| BRUNSWICK STREET | EXCHANGE STREET EAST | OLD LEEDS STREET | STANLEY STREET |
| CASTLE STREET | EXCHANGE STREET WEST | PARR STREET | TITHEBARN STREET |
| CHEAPSIDE | FENWICK STREET | PRESTON STREET | TRUEMAN STREET |
| COLQUITT STREET | FONTENOY STREET | PRIMROSE HILL | VICTORIA STREET |
| COVENT GARDEN | HARRINGTON STREET | RENSHAW STREET | WATER STREET |
| CROSSHALL STREET | HATTON GARDEN | RUMFORD PLACE | WILLIAM BROWN STREET |
| DALE STREET | HIGH STREET | RUMFORD STREET |
