Free Evening Parking in Liverpool City Centre Set to End Soon

Liverpool City Centre’s long-standing provision of free evening parking after 6pm is set to come to an end within weeks, marking a significant shift in parking regulations for the city. This change, originally announced in November 2022, is part of Liverpool City Council’s efforts to address its growing budget deficit. After years of delays, a senior official has now confirmed the timeline for implementing these changes, which will impact residents, businesses, and visitors alike.

Extended Parking Charges: What’s Changing?

Under the new regulations, the city council will extend parking enforcement hours from the current 8am to 6pm to a new timeframe of 7am to 11pm daily. This means that motorists will soon be required to pay for parking during the evenings, removing the long-standing benefit of free post-6pm parking.

This move comes just two months after the council’s cabinet approved the first parking charge increase in years. The changes will apply to public pay-and-display bays and other controlled parking zones (CPZs) across the city centre.

The council has justified the extension of paid parking hours as a measure to free up spaces for residents and business permit holders, who often struggle to find parking in congested areas. However, the proposal has faced considerable opposition, with a public consultation revealing that 89% of respondents were against the plan. Despite this, then-Mayor Joanne Anderson signalled the city’s intention to press ahead with the changes, citing the need for financial stability and better parking management.

Consultation and Delays: Why Has It Taken So Long?

Since the initial announcement in 2022, the council has faced delays in implementing the changes due to the sheer volume of public responses. Officers had to carefully consider thousands of submissions, leading to a prolonged consultation process.

Andy Mollon, Director of Sustainable Transport, confirmed during a recent council meeting that a resolution had been reached. He stated:

“We’ve completed the consultation into the controlled parking zone. We brought in additional resources to try and speed that up. We are now looking at the implementation of that at the end of March at the latest. It should be in place for the beginning of the new financial year.”

Financial Impact on the City Council

Liverpool City Council has been under mounting financial pressure, with an estimated £1.9 million overspend in parking services due to the delays in implementing the CPZ expansion. With a £29 million budget shortfall to address, increasing parking charges and extending paid hours has become a crucial revenue-generating strategy.

In December 2023, the council’s cabinet approved significant price hikes for city centre parking, which will take effect alongside the new extended hours. These increases are expected to help the council balance its books while also funding essential services such as social care and homelessness support.

How Much Will Parking Charges Increase?

The new parking fee structure will see increases of up to 60% in some locations, making Liverpool’s parking rates more in line with those of other major UK cities. The key changes include:

  • Multi-storey car parks: Prices will rise by 40%. For example, parking for over three hours at Mount Pleasant Car Park will increase from £5 to just under £7.
  • Off-street car parks: Charges will increase by 47.28%, meaning a five-hour stay at Dale Street surface car parkwill rise from £8 to £11.78.
  • On-street parking: The biggest price hike, with charges rising by an average of 60%. A four-hour stay in a city centre bay will increase from £6 to £9.60.

Deputy Leader of Liverpool Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, Cllr Ruth Bennett, justified the move, stating that Liverpool’s existing parking fees were “out of kilter” with those of other major cities. She highlighted the necessity of these changes in ensuring financial stability for the city’s infrastructure and services.

What This Means for Drivers in Liverpool

For local residents, business owners, and visitors, these changes represent a significant shift in how parking is managed in Liverpool. The removal of free evening parking may particularly impact those who visit the city for nightlife, shopping, or dining, as they will now have to budget for additional parking costs.

Business owners have expressed concerns that the extended charges could deter customers, especially for restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues that rely on evening trade. On the other hand, residents holding permits may find parking more accessible as fewer non-permit holders take advantage of free evening spaces.

Posted on 6 February 2025