With several businesses claiming that trade has been suffering, changes are set to be made to the parking rules around the new Everton Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. Everton will move into the stadium officially at the start of the 2025-26 season.
Business owners wanted plans to restrict parking around the stadium on matchdays but the Liverpool City Council is ruminating on a more permanent solution, applicable for 365 days a year. Liam Robinson, from the Council, told BBC Radio Merseyside that they would make "tweaks, alterations or changes" to the parking zone amid mounting pressure.
Paul Blair, owner of Hot Water Comedy Club and Blackstock Market, as well as Brittany Kefira, from Noctua Jewellery on Regent Street, discussed the blows to their businesses with the Councilman.
"I appreciate the council is now talking about pay and display options and looking at increasing the number of business permits but right now, businesses are still suffering and we're still waiting for answers and timelines,” said Kefira.
Meanwhile, Blair claimed that business was down nearly 47% since the parking rules were publicised and added that it was because "80% of the people coming are driving".
Robinson, while “genuinely sorry” for the impact, suggested that both parties could have to make compromises in order to reach an agreement. He also acknowledged that there had been some traffic problems linked to road closures and had also looked at board concerns about poor street lighting.
The Everton Stadium opened its doors to the world for the first time nearly 10 days ago when Everton U18s took on their counterparts from Wigan Athletic in a test event that saw 10,000 lucky Evertonians occupying the South Stand after a lucky ballot.
Although the test event had been a resounding success, Robinson acknowledged complaints regarding the transport and parking arrangements. He said there could not be a "parking free for all" in the area which he said was "starting to grow" through investment.
Public transport had also been inadequate. Despite handling only a fraction of the 52,000+ capacity for the test event, a fanzone at Sandhills Station got overcrowded. Improvements to signage, a new foot bridge and the introduction of eight carriage trains on match-days are expected to be the way forward, as suggested by Councilman Robinson. He will also meet with Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, Everton and fan groups in the coming days to discuss the issues.
Reader Comments (11)
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2 Posted 01/03/2025 at 22:20:57
It still does.
3 Posted 02/03/2025 at 13:07:23
He recognises that this is in his words is ‘ a once in a lifetime opportunity to regenerate this part of Liverpool’.
Beyond that statement however he focussed almost completely on match day travel, Everton having been the lead in transport.discussions. Liverpool CC being responsible for the car parking decision.
It is clear that all interested parties including the Mayor and LCC are now engaged in regular discussions to improve matters.
I think we are all surprised that it has taken this long and taken a test event to realise that Sandhills will need more train carriages, more frequent trains.
The car parking prohibition won’t work.
There needs to be a more organised bus shuttle plan.
Safe walkways need to be designated and properly lit.
Really? I’m amazed we are now discussing these ‘basics’.
I’m also amazed that beyond matchday absolutely no transport plan exists, or has been considered for the regeneration of this part of town.
A once in a lifetime regeneration opportunity doesn’t fall solely on Everton FC’s shoulders…and deserves a lot better planning than this imo.
A lot of talk about discussions that have been ongoing for a while, but other than a proposed new footbridge at Sandhills, nothing communicated, and on the face of it very little to show for it..
4 Posted 02/03/2025 at 13:23:08
In a recent podcast in the Echo the Metro Mayor, whose responsibility is Merseyrail, seems to be saying no talks have taken place with the Unions for the drivers/guards to bring extra staff in to deal with Sunday matches.
The Metro Mayor is also responsible for the buses. Nothing to give you confidence that a reliable Soccer Bus Service is going to be provided especially on a Sunday if the timetable remains as it is.
It looks like an awful lot of fans will be walking into town or outside the parking restriction area. Hope the weather is good! This is really not good enough as matters stand!
5 Posted 03/03/2025 at 16:08:15
6 Posted 06/03/2025 at 11:03:45
Just £100 or so for the train up and back and its a bargain... I shall be walking the walk from Doctor Duncan's to the ground – I hope there are relief stops along the way...
7 Posted 06/03/2025 at 11:07:23
Got mine in the Lower South. Obviously being the young man I am, it was a fiver for me.
Ditto on the train. They didn't hang about adding those increases they announced this week did they?!!!
8 Posted 06/03/2025 at 11:44:56
Everton parking plan changes 'don't go far enough'
Under the new restrictions, parking is limited 365 days a year, not just on matchday.
Initial restrictions introduced in February saw street parking limited to 1 hour. Following complaints, this has been extended in some areas to 2 hours.
"The first week of restrictions being introduced... our week-on-week sales were down 47%."
The businessman said there was "no need" for the parking restrictions to apply every day.
"We need removal of the non-matchday restrictions,"
"There has not been enough consultation. We have objected in writing and have had no response.
"I think there is a lot of focus on the football club and not enough focus on the many, many thousands of business in the area that will be severely impacted.
"Why would you want to punish businesses every day when it will only impact Everton for maybe up to 50 days of the year?"
9 Posted 06/03/2025 at 12:27:09
Surely one big reason for the stadium is to help boost growth in the area... not penalise businesses who set up there?
10 Posted 06/03/2025 at 13:07:57
It's a disgrace that the rules are for 10 months of the year and not just match days. The area does not need those restrictions when games are on. Not surprised the businesses are fuming.
11 Posted 06/03/2025 at 13:12:40
On transportation, I am not familiar with Liverpool's Park & Ride system and all I could find was that some Merseyrail stations offer free parking, but with the likes of Aigburth having 18 spaces and most others similar, which won't cut it. Probably the best is South Parkway, with over 300, but not everyone travels in that way.
I mostly get the train up these days and rarely drove to the match when I lived back home.
Oxford has a really good system. Large parking areas with shuttle buses into the city. But they are all on the main arteries such as the A40.
Could Liverpool do the same at the main routes in (Speke, M62, East Lancs, M58 where it meets the A59 and something north of Crosby?). It would not just serve Everton, but the city all year round.
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1 Posted 28/02/2025 at 23:29:02
Plus the red sh#te couldn't build a scouse Disney land then, could they aye? 😀