City's evening parking charges could face legal battle

A legal challenge could be brought after a city ended free evening parking.

Liverpool City Council pressed ahead last July with the decision to extend parking charges until 23:00, despite 90% of people who were consulted saying they were against the move.

argued the changes would standardise parking across the city centre, but now matters could be taken to court, with the man leading the legal challenge, businessman and former city councillor Alfie Hincks, saying the changes risk damaging the city centre economy.

Liverpool City Council said it had "acted lawfully and properly".

Last summer, signage and parking meters were updated across the city centre to reflect the changes to the controlled parking zone (CPZ).

It meant that since then, drivers have been charged from 07:00 to 23:00, rather than the previous times of 08:00 to 18:00.

More than 7,000 drivers were caught out by the new charging hours in the first three months of the scheme.

A review of the CPZ around the city centre was first carried out in 2018.

An initial informal public consultation was held in February 2022, after which proposals were revised and a statutory consultation undertaken between July and August 2023.

Hincks is seeking to overturn the changes alongside leaders from other businesses across the sector, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

"We believe these parking measures risk damaging the city centre economy at a time when businesses are already facing immense pressures," Hincks said.

"Liverpool is a fantastic city with a proud business community, but policies like this risk making it harder for employers, workers and customers alike.

"We believe there are important legal questions that now deserve to be properly tested."

A Liverpool Council spokesperson said: "We are satisfied that we have acted lawfully and properly.

"We will respond to any claim that arises but can't comment further."

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