Liverpool City Council suspends parking zone in the area around Everton FC’s new stadium in a move described as ‘a huge victory for businesses’. Tony McDonough reports
Pressure from local businesses has led to a u-turn by Liverpool City Council on its new parking zone.
On Monday the council said it would review the measures it had introduced under an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) for the stadium’s first event last month. They have now been suspended.
In early February the council said it would impose a parking zone in the docklands area around Bramley-Moore Dock similar to those around Anfield and Goodison. However, there was a backlash from business with tens of thousands of people signing a petition.
This temporary suspension of the measures comes into effect along the city’s waterfront from its northern extremity by Canada Dock down to the Leeds Street corridor at the city centre boundary, and eastwards across to the Pumpfields district.
However, the new ETRO parking zone will continue to be in place within the residential districts, from the Eldonian Village across to Great Homer Street and north to “the Shakespeare streets” in Kirkdale.
Residents who have not yet applied for parking permits are encouraged to do so. These permits are free. Each household is allowed a visitor permit, which is also free.
One of the most vocal critics of the measures, leisure venue Blackstock Market, called the decision “a huge victory for businesses”. It added: “After all the hard work, determination and unity they’ve finally listened to us.
“It’s the right decision but it shouldn’t have taken this long. We just hope no lasting damage has been done to any of the 3,000 businesses affected by this prolonged or unnecessary process.”
It also said it would keep pushing the council until “a fair and sensible solution is reached for everyone impacted for when the new season starts”.
The authority said the review enables it to consider the feedback from the public consultation exercise, which was launched to coincide with the new ETRO. Liverpool City Council has so far received more than 5,000 responses.
An updated ETRO is expected to be announced by August before the new football season begins and Everton FC start to host matches at Bramley Moore Dock venue.
A further series of improvements, identified from the first test event, have also now been implemented, including:
- A review of the event traffic management plan on road closures ahead of the second test event. This was to ensure closures were enacted and communicated more effectively.
- Improvements to Street Lighting on walking routes to and from the stadium.
- Improved pedestrian wayfinding signage between Sandhills station and City Centre stations and the stadium.
- Temporary signage to shuttle bus and taxi rank locations.
Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said: “The new stadium has created new challenges on parking in this part of the city, adding to the pressures from commuters, and the changing needs of a growing area for business.
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“It’s important we get these measures right… the legal basis for the new restrictions enables us to make amendments in the light of evidence and experience.
“We will now take the time between now and the start of the new football season to get the balance of new measures right, and in the meantime suspend the measures in the parts of the zone of most concern to local businesses.”