Physical parking permits could become a thing of the past in Liverpool as part of an overhaul of ticketing in the city. The local authority is set to consider a new parking enforcement contract to replace its current system, which a cabinet report describes as a “legacy back-office system that creates significant operational challenges” and causes “higher error rates.”
The move comes after it was revealed that charging drivers to park past 6pm from last July generated £801,000 alone, with more than 143,000 tickets purchased by motorists during that period. Overall, an estimated £1.1m was made from parking that was wholly or partially within the new chargeable period, according to a Freedom of Information request by the Liverpool Business Leaders group.
Paperless system planned
The cabinet will be asked to approve the new contract, which is slated to cost £806,000. The proposed system would eliminate the requirement for physical permits to be displayed, integrating directly with Parking Enforcement teams to record permitted vehicles.
The cabinet report states: “The system will integrate directly with Parking Enforcement teams to record permitted vehicles, thereby eliminating the requirement for physical permits to be displayed. This initiative aims to deliver substantial efficiencies within the Council and significantly improve the existing parking permit process for applicants. With additional parking zones anticipated in the future, the implementation of this system is becoming increasingly necessary.”
Impact on users
The report set out how the change may impact users. It said: “The improvement is the move to a fully paperless, self-service process, enabling customers to apply for, renew and manage their own permits, submit supporting information, make payments and check progress online. Digital permits linked directly to vehicle registration details will remove the need to issue, receive or display paper permits, providing a quicker, more convenient and reliable service while reducing delays, lost documents and unnecessary contact with the council.”
In July last year, parking charges were extended until 11pm after a lengthy delay, despite almost 90% of people indicating they were against the move. Councillors pressed ahead with the change, arguing it would standardise parking across the city centre. The plan was first mooted in 2022. Last summer, signage and parking meters were updated across the city centre to reflect the changes to the controlled parking zone (CPZ). A review of the CPZ was first carried out in 2018, with an initial informal public consultation held in February 2022, followed by a statutory consultation between July and August 2023.
