Sefton Council cash in £2.5million from parking fees

Sefton Council earned nearly £2.5million from parking fees last year, according to new figures.

The local authority was second in Merseyside for parking profits behind Liverpool, which took just over £4m from residents.

Across the region, the eye- watering amount totals more than £8m, with local authorities having made their biggest profits from on and off-street parking.

Driving organisations criticised the rising profits by local authorities for parking, which they said left shoppers with less money to spend on the high street.

Nearby West Lancashire Borough Council made £312,000 from parking in 2017-18. AA spokesman Luke Bosdet said: “Firstly, the high cost of parking is sucking money out of consumer spending, money that could be spent in shops.

“Secondly, councils are increasingly reliant on their parking money to prop up their other services. In that respect, it’s a stealth tax. It should cover the cost of providing the service.”