Parking charges hike: Readers have their say

VISITER readers have been giving their reaction to news that parking charges in Sefton are going up – which will see the minimum charge for parking in town more than double, from 70p to £1.50.

Sefton Council is abolishing half hour parking, meaning shoppers will have to pay for a minimum of one hour.

The authority has set a target of making an extra £547,000 from motorists this year, as it faces a £64.4million budget deficit over the next three years. You gave us your views... THE council don’t even give a thought to whether they damage Southport. Which is worse than meaning to harm it in my opinion!

I am honestly disgusted. We shouldn’t be making this yet another political point scoring game.

We should be looking at how we increase footfall and flow through Southport, rather than making money, yet again, at the expense of local businesses, residents and tourists.

Yes, park and ride is cheap, I agree. I am also a hater of austerity... but please stop blaming cuts. Of course social care is crucial... but be fair local councillors... you could spend the money much better, so stop blaming cuts and get thinking!

Rick Furness SCRAPPING the half hour is yet another blow.

I hate paying to park in my own town at all, but at least this was a (relatively) small charge if you just needed to call into bank/one shop / library. Now that will cost more than twice as much.

Who on earth thinks up these policies? Ruth Start I THINK we’d do well to stop fantasising that Southport is some sort of precious jewel supporting the rest of the borough. I’m afraid it isn’t.

The sense of superiority smacks of startling snobbery and it does us no favours. This government and the coalition before it imposed cuts that require the drastic balancing of books.

I’d sooner pay a bit more for parking than lose vital health and social care spending.

Perhaps we could draw on some positives; that Southport seems to be developing into a town for dining out supported by a few speciality shops rather than the other way around.

There are areas such as Birkdale, which is a lovely place to visit with great shops and cafes; there is Churchtown which has gathered some momentum with a new gallery and boutique along with a great little gift shop opened opposite The Bold, all situated nearby The Botanic Gardens.

Southport will never be a main shopping area like Liverpool One, so why pretend otherwise?

Most of us shop online because we know we can get what we want at the right price. Perhaps we should check our own habits and how WE contribute to the town and realise just how lucky we are.

Or perhaps rebrand ourselves as ‘Sourport’, before someone else does. Debbie Bannon AT one time Lord Street was a premier shopping street, but, unfortunately, because of the high rent business rates and car park charges some of the lovely shops have closed to be replaced by charity shops and pound shops.

I’m under no illusions about Southport losing its cachet but the fewer shops we have the less footfall!

Sefton has a duty to promote the area and support Southport which it fails to do.

I’m as guilty as anyone. A weekly visit to Southport town centre was a must, not any more sadly.

Jackie Sutton SAD that the streets near to our church are no longer free to park on a Sunday.

Will now cost £3 every week to park to go to church. Sad times.

Sam Cobley WHO the hell makes these idiotic decisions.

You really think people will pay for an hour’s parking just to nip into a shop to quickly buy something.

Just another nail in the coffin for many shops including mine.

Paul Molineux WHO cares. You have a car, pay a fortune to maintain and run it, why would you be that bothered about a small rise in parking charges?

They are still a lot cheaper than most places. You own a car, you need to pay the price to use it, if you don’t like it, get the Andybus. Pryce SouthportSEFTON Counciloff! Why,is trying I don’t to know.kill

Jeanne McDonald GREEDY council trying to kill our town. Parking charges are too high for people now.

It’s just going to stop people from wanting to visit Southport and they will go elsewhere.

Parking should be free in Southport. Bobby Thomas WILL the parking charges be raised in Bootle? They contribute £140,000 per year, compared to £2.1 million per year from Southport. Eric Usher DISGRACEFUL. Milking local motorists dry. Should be free everywhere. Robert Coppell HOW can we stop more people coming in now? Charge to walk up Lord Street? Jonathan O’Brien SHOPPERS needn’t worry as if they come to Skelmersdale you won’t be charged a stinking penny.

Neil Furey SCRAPPING the half hour will kill it, very sad... people need to boycott all parking for some days or weeks even... they would have to do something then! Chris York WITH all the Government cuts to local councils, how else do you expect them to find the extra money.

It hasn’t increased drastically. You’d all be moaning if the cuts were in other areas, which are of priority.

Can’t just blame poor footfall, sales etc on parking charges. Much rather spend a fiver, get on the train to Liverpool and actually shop in some decent stores. Ryan Morley IF IT were not for the free two hours at Marine Plaza or the 90 minutes at Sainsbury’s I wouldn’t park in Southport at all. They’re driving trade away and contributing to the downward spiral of the town. But hey, why should Southport be any different to the rest of the country which is also going to the dogs.

Norman Paul THOSE who pass these rules, all have little passes for their cars which allow them to park anywhere in Sefton for free.

I would have thought it was against the law for a council to charge people in the same borough different prices for the same service. Thus showing favouritism to people who elect Labour councillors. Perhaps it is one for the commissioner responsible for local government? Fred McCann THAT’S it, keep putting the prices up and milking the town. No shops left soon... Get Southport out of Sefton now.

Jonathan Jonno Goldring WHY are there different, lesser charges across parts of Sefton which lie outside of Southport? Surely we are “all in it together”?

Derek Nadin SHAMEFUL! Sefton Council really don’t give a damn about Southport!

I doubt they will raise the money they want as people will go elsewhere. They are going to lose crucial revenue for businesses.

You would have thought that the BID would have fought this on behalf of our retailers.

What is very annoying is that they do not listen to the residents of Southport. Sefton Council run roughshod over us! Lyn Hilton THIS is ridiculous! I’m not a driver myself, but even these prices are extreme! Jasmine Parkinson WELL that’s the end for Southport’s town centre shops.

More often than not I just go to specific shops for specific items, all of which takes me perhaps 15/20 minutes, now “they” want me to pay the increase AND pay for an hour’s parking!?!?!?

Looks like the lunatics have taken over the asylum again. SOS.

Rod Bleackley LOOKS like I will be using my “bus pass” more often, which means they will get no parking money off me. I only needed half-hour parking. Dave Bleackley