Council bosses explain why Bramley-Moore Dock parking restrictions have been suspended

Liverpool City Council leaders have explained why they made the decision to suspend a raft of parking restrictions that had been put in place around Everton's new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

Liverpool City Council has confirmed that a raft of parking restrictions that were rapidly introduced ahead of the first test event at Everton's new stadium have been suspended.

The new measures, which were part of an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) and came into effect last month, have been largely credited with helping to ease congestion around Bramley-Moore Dock.

However, the council says that it has now decided to suspend the restrictions in the business areas of the zone while an updated ETRO is announced later this summer.

The temporary cessation of the measures will come into effect along the city’s waterfront from its northern extremity by Canada Dock down to the Leeds Street corridor at the new city centre boundary, and eastwards across to the Pumpfields district.

The new ETRO parking zone will, however, continue to be in place within the residential districts, from the Eldonian Village across to Great Homer Street and north to “the Shakespeare streets” in Kirkdale.

A full review of the parking restrictions is now underway following Sunday's second test event at the 52,888-seater stadium.

The announcement to review the measures in the business areas of the zone also means the council will now consider the feedback from a public consultation exercise, which was launched to coincide with the new ETRO.

Liverpool City Council has so far received more than 5,000 responses to the consultation, which are still open on the council’s website.

An updated ETRO is expected to be announced by August ahead of the new football season and Everton FC's move to their stunning Bramley Moore Dock venue.

A further series of improvements, identified from the first test event, have also now been implemented, including:

* A new and improved pedestrian crossing on Great Homer Street

* Additional bollards to prevent vehicles from driving on to the forecourt of the new stadium

* Enhanced street lighting in a small number of locations

Explaining the decision to suspend the scheme, Cllr Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said: “The new stadium has created new challenges on parking in this part of the city, adding to the pressures from commuters, and the changing needs of a growing area for business. It’s important we get these measures right.

“Since the consultation launched last month we’ve had a lot of feedback. The Council has listened carefully. The legal basis for the new restrictions enables us to make amendments in the light of evidence and experience.

“We will now take the time between now and the start of the new football season to get the balance of new measures right, and in the meantime suspend the measures in the parts of the zone of most concern to local businesses.

“There is still the year-round issue of commuter parking affecting our residential areas with the zone, so it makes absolute sense for the measures to continue there.

“We are also working closely with colleagues at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority on their plans for public transport provision and we are in in active dialogue with them and Everton FC to ensure changes and improvements are made.”

Cllr Dan Barrington, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Connectivity, added: “It’s been a month since this experimental parking zone launched and we’ve already learnt a lot about its operation and impact.

“The second test on Sunday feels like the second time to take stock of what we’ve learned so far and carefully consider the arrangements that need to apply from August. Our Highways team will continue to analyse all the feedback from the consultation, and the evidence generated from the test events, to find ways to amend and improve the ETRO. We know this takes a few months to carry out, so in the meantime will temporarily suspend the traffic order in the business areas of the zone.

“The issue of illegal and unsafe parking on double yellow lines and pavements that blights the area, specifically on the residential areas cannot be overlooked. These issues impact the area all year round and it’s vital we get the balance right to ensure the parking measures supports businesses and the area’s economic development, whilst providing residents with the protection they deserve.”