There’s a lot of parking chatter on Wirral at the moment. Green councillors are meeting with residents and business owners to help explain the current survey.
We want to be clear that Greens support fairer, greener parking. Here’s a short article explaining our position.
Additional income from parking charges will ensure the cost of servicing and maintaining car parks are fully covered by those who use them.
This is fairer as currently all council taxpayers subsidise parking, whether they own a vehicle or not. We are awaiting clarification from officers about the full costs of parking on Wirral, including cost of enforcement, maintenance of car parks and the further costs of ‘car dependency’ (increased pollution, death and injury on our roads, etc.). It’s a complicated financial picture!
For many Wirral residents, especially those struggling financially, owning a car is not an option. It is unfair to ask these families to subsidise parking for others when their money could be better used to support local services and improve public spaces.
Notably, parts of Birkenhead and Wallasey, where over half of households do not own any private vehicles, experience the worst air quality and the highest levels of traffic danger.
Wirral’s parking strategy, which was approved by all parties, promotes fairness and encourages sustainable transport options. By reducing pollution, it will benefit everyone, especially those most affected by poor air quality.
The council must balance its budget fairly, and this policy ensures a more equitable sharing of the financial burden.
It’s important to stress that:
✅ Blue badge holders will still be able to park for free and volunteer groups can request free parking permits.
✅ Businesses can buy parking permits for £720 per year, that’s less than £14 per week.
Have your say via the survey here. A decision will be made at the relevant committee later in the year.