One of Liverpool’s best known restaurateurs has said the city council must be “held to account” over night time parking charges. More than a dozen businesses have signed up to launch an action against the council as they say the extension to parking charges risks damaging the city centre economy “when businesses are already facing immense pressures”.
Legal challenge over extended charges
In July last year, it was confirmed parking charges would be extended in the city centre until 11pm, prompting a chorus of complaints and, ultimately, legal action seeking a reversal of the decision. Liverpool Council is moving to throw out the legal challenge, instigated by former councillor Alfie Hincks, who operates Seascope Maritime Training.
Paul Askew, chef patron and owner of The Art School Restaurant, said he was delighted the matter was facing further scrutiny as it was “putting yet another nail in a very, almost full coffin” for hospitality.
Hospitality leaders meet Lib Dems
Mr Askew hosted a roundtable discussion with industry leaders alongside the Liverpool Liberal Democrat group leader Carl Cashman and the party’s deputy chief Daisy Cooper MP earlier this week. Despite almost 90% of respondents indicating they were against the move, councillors pressed ahead with the change, arguing it would standardise parking across the city centre. As a result, motorists are no longer able to leave their cars on city streets for free after 6pm.
Mr Askew said the policy had taken its toll on businesses around the theatre district. He said: “We have seen a change in the footfall. Being part of the Hope Street CIC, we talk to the Everyman [theatre], we talk to the Phil, we talk to the cathedrals, and all the operators. We all sit around together and discuss these things. It’s quite obvious there’s been a dip since those parking announcements.”
“I believe there’s been a legal challenge now. I’m delighted about that because they need to be held to account. I’ve said to the council myself, I honestly thought that your job was to sit round the table and think of ways of inspiring business and growing business, and making the city better. This feels like you sat around trying to make it worse.”
Quiet city and cost of living
He said there had been “glimmers of hope” in Andy Burnham’s announcements since entering Downing Street but all eyes remained on the autumn budget. “The city still feels a little bit quiet. I’ve seen some of the nighttime economy guys and the bar owners that feel the atmosphere is not quite the same at the moment, so the cost of living crisis continues.”
Mr Askew’s Art School venue hosted business leaders in a discussion with Daisy Cooper MP and Cllr Cashman earlier this week. He said: “This was about engaging with other parties, in this case, the Lib Dems hearing what they feel about it. Obviously, they’ve got a local election coming up as well, so they wanted to tell us what they feel about hospitality. So we’ve told them what we need and what we think the future should hold for Liverpool.”
Political responses
Ms Cooper, Liberal Democrat treasury spokesperson, said: “What I’ve heard from hospitality leaders is they love Liverpool, they love their industry, they love what they’re doing. They love the city, but they are just getting absolutely hammered by this government. It’s been the jobs tax, it’s been the business rate increases, it’s been the complexity of the employment rights bill, and all of these things adding up means that they just feel like they’re in survival mode and they are really struggling to survive.”
“It’s a really critical, really critical sector, and for a place like Liverpool that prides itself in being a place full of fun and entertainment to music. We need hospitality businesses to thrive.” Ms Cooper, MP for St Albans, added: “The impression I got was that businesses feel they’re not being listened to by local locally elected politicians. They think it is time for change, and many of these businesses are seeing that Carl and his team are that opportunity to change in Liverpool.” Cllr Cashman said: “The message from the industry was loud and clear: They love this city, but they need a government and a council that backs them.”
A Liverpool Labour spokesperson said: “How fortunate that Liberal Democrat MP Daisy Cooper was absent from Liverpool whilst Labour was picking up the pieces of the mess her party made in government. Not content with getting into bed with the Tories, the Liberal Democrats sold Liverpool down the river, cheered along austerity, and backed every regressive Tory reform that left Liverpool worse off. The Liberal Democrats traded their values for a moment of power, and they would do it again in a heartbeat. Liverpool Labour is proud to be a home to people from all walks of life.”
“Our elected members include nurses and doctors, social workers, postal workers, teachers, railway workers; the list goes on. Liverpool Labour are the representatives of the people of Liverpool; the Liberal Democrats are a cult of personality around one man. While the Liberal Democrats take every opportunity to talk Liverpool down, we’re investing in our city’s prospects.”
