THE places where Wirral Council plans to create new car parking charges have been confirmed.

The confirmation comes after months of wrangling on the council over the plans, with many furious about them and arguing they will destroy local businesses.

On the other hand, some thought the charges were necessary as Wirral Council was currently ‘subsidising’ free car parks in incredibly difficult times for the local authority and that the move was necessary to get people out of their cars helping to combat climate change.

The plan to go ahead with raising £1m from new parking charges, and standardising rates across the borough at £1 per hour up to a maximum of £5 per day, was finally confirmed on August 10.

This is despite it first being agreed as part of the council’s budget on March 1.

The standardised rate is now in place, but a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) must be put in place before new parking charges can be created.

As part of this process, which involves a consultation (https://haveyoursay.wirral.gov.uk/car-parking-charges-traffic-regulation) with residents which runs until Christmas Eve, the council has confirmed the areas it is proposing to introduce new parking charges to.

The areas being considered:

Kings Parade/Coastal Drive, New Brighton – Scheme ref no. TO/18/06

North Parade/Meols Parade, Hoylake and Meols – Scheme ref no. TO/18/07

South Parade, West Kirby – Scheme ref no. TO/18/08

Bayview Drive/Harrison Drive – Scheme ref no. TO/18/09

Derby Pool Car Park, New Brighton – Scheme ref no. TO/18/10A

The Gunsite Car Park, Leasowe – Scheme ref no. TO/18/10B

Other Off-Street Car Parks – Scheme ref no. TO/21/19: (Includes all the below)

Fort Perch Rock Car Park, New Brighton/ Chamberlain Street Car Park, Birkenhead/ Old Chester Road-Chamberlain Street Car Park, Birkenhead/ Turner Street Car Park, Birkenhead

Banks Road Car Park, Heswall/ Roslin Road Car Park, Irby/ Fishers Lane Car Park, Pensby/ Carr Lane Car Park, Hoylake/ Charles Road Car Park, Hoylake/ Market Street Car Park, Hoylake

Barlow Avenue Car Park, Bebington/ Church Road Car Park, Bebington/ Roland Avenue Car Park, Bebington/ Allport Lane Car Park, Bromborough/ Mill Park Drive Car Park, Eastham

Manor Road Car Park, Liscard / Garden Lane Car Park, Moreton/ Holt Avenue Car Park, Moreton/ Pasture Road Car Park, Moreton/ Rappart Road Car Park, Seacombe/ Thurstaston Common Car Park, Thurstaston.

Wirral Council said new charges would allow it to provide a “fair and sustainable parking policy”.

Blue badge holders would be exempt from the requirement to pay for parking as long as a valid badge is clearly displayed.

Resident parking schemes are separate to the consultation process and applications for them will be dealt with individually and only after the new charges have been decided.

After the public are asked for their views, feedback will be taken to the Environment and Transport Committee before any decision is taken to introduce charges at new locations.

Due to this process, parking charges are not likely to be introduced at any new locations until 2022.