Live in New Brighton, Moreton, West Kirby, Heswall, Liscard, Bromborough, Bebington, Upton or Irby? – Will you be paying to park outside your house?

Last night I attended a Council Business Scrutiny workshop.   One of the items, and perhaps the most emotive was the proposals to increase the Council’s income by increasing car parking charges by 50p per hour at existing Council car parks and to introduce further car parking charges, on street and off street at nine locations across the Borough, as well imposing a £4.00 per day fixed charge at Wirrals Country Parks.

While I am waiting for further detail the hit list for the nine locations for introducing car parking charges is: New Brighton (including Fort Perch Rock), Moreton, West Kirby, Hoylake, Heswall, Liscard, Bromborough, Bebington, Upton and Irby.    The charges are likely to apply to many on street areas in our towns, so a an example in Moreton the two car parks, Holt Avenue and Garden Lane as well as on street charges on Hoylake Road, Upton Road, Pasture Road etc.    In West Kirby, along the promenade, The Crescent, Grange Road, Banks Road and side roads, In Hoylake on Market Street and the side roads etc; and so it goes on in other towns.

The Country Parks include, Wirral Country Park, Royden Park, Arrowe Park, Eastham Country Park etc and at £4.00 per day that is going to disadvantage thousands of people who simply want to visit for an hour or so, perhaps dog walkers etc.

I am aware that New Brighton resident, Darren May had the foresight to see this coming and last week started an online petition opposing the introduction of parking charges in New Brighton.   I would urge people to sign that petition ASAP and it can be accessed by clicking HERE.

I am sure other people will also be setting up petitions and you may want to sign them as well.

One thing is for certain we need to send a very strong message to this Labour-led Council if we are to stop this decimation of our Towns and Parks.

Labour candidate joins the Conservatives

A senior Wirral Labour Candidate has joined the Conservatives.  Geoff Dormand achieved the highest-ever Labour vote in Greasby, Frankby and Irby Ward in the local elections in May 2010.     The drive by the Conservatives to open up the Council and to consult residents on services was cited by Geoff as one of the reasons why he decided to make the switch.      

Geoff lives in Seacombe and is joint Chairman of the Seacombe Community Partnership and also a member of the Wirral Older People’s Parliament.     Geoff said: “I am passionate about giving more power to local communities such as Seacombe and what the new Council is doing should have all-Party support.  Locally, I have often been helped by Denis Knowles who, I believe, is a good councillor.” 

Cllr. Jeff Green, Leader of the Council, said: “I am delighted to welcome someone who wants to put the needs of his community first. Geoff did really well for Labour in Greasby and his loss will be a bitter blow to them.    “Geoff is clearly committed to his local community and wants to make sure that people in Seacombe are fully consulted and involved.  That is only going to happen with the new Administration in the Town Hall.”