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A COLLECTION of “bizarre” transport decisions risk ruining scores of local businesses across Liverpool, the city’s business leaders have warned.
New figures reveal that the number of off-street car parking spaces is to be slashed from 16,500 to 11,000 as it begins its year as European Capital of Culture in 2008.
They come just weeks after the City Council raised car parking fees while disruption from the Big Dig deters thousands of tourists and shoppers from travelling into the city centre.
Now business leaders have questioned the city’s entire transport policy, claiming the chaos is putting successful businesses at risk.
Frank McKenna, chairman of Downtown Liverpool in Business, said: “Persuading people to leave their cars at home is all well and good, but this needs to be done in a co-ordinated way.
“Instead, we get car park prices nearly doubling at the height of the Big Dig, while now we learn the number of parking spaces is going to be cut as well.
“This would be all well and good if there were significant improvements being made to the public transport system across Merseyside – but that’s not happening.
“In fact, the one system which may have been able to justify such extreme measures – the Merseytram – now seems doomed because of continued squabbling between local agencies and a lack of will in Whitehall.”
Once again, those likely to pay the highest price for the decisions are private sector businesses, Mr McKenna added.
“A few weeks ago, people looked at things like the Big Dig and asked: ‘How business-friendly is Liverpool?’” added Mr McKenna.
“As if we were in any doubt, together, these bizarre decisions hold the answer - Not at all.”
Note to editors
For more information, or to arrange an interview with Frank McKenna, call Chris Marritt at Mason Media on 0151 707 4514 or 07908 214950
