Latest news with #PaulBlair
BBC News
06-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
New Everton stadium parking plan changes 'don't go far enough'
Planned tweaks to parking rules near Everton's new stadium do not go far enough, worried business owners have of the Toffeemen moving into their new stadium this summer, Liverpool City Council introduced parking restrictions within a 30-minute walking radius of the Bramley-Moore Dock Market owner Paul Blair said takings had dropped 47% within the first week of the new rules being in council, which earlier this week announced some amendments to the rules following feedback, said the consultation process was ongoing. 'Driving businesses away' Under the new restrictions, parking is limited 365 days a year, not just on matchdays."There's about 3,000 business that operate their businesses here," Mr Blair said."The council has not thought them at all in any planning for this."Initial restrictions introduced in February saw street parking limited to one complaints, this has been extended in some areas to two Blair said that was still not enough and warned that long-established companies were being forced out by the council's actions."They are definitely driving existing businesses away," he said."Some have been here for over 50 years and now they are essentially being forced out."Mr Blair, who opened Blackstock Market nine months ago, said he would not have invested in the area had he have known about the plans to restrict parking. "The first week of restrictions being introduced... our week-on-week sales were down 47%," he businessman said there was "no need" for the parking restrictions to apply every day."We need removal of the non-matchday restrictions," said Mr Blair. Meanwhile, Downland Bedding's managing director Fraser Smith said he had already lost members of staff who had cited parking problems as a reason for leaving the family-owned business on Blackstock Street."It will definitely deter people from coming to work here," he said."We were established in 1946 ... we've been here a long time, employing tens of thousands of people over the years in what is known as a deprived area."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?"Liverpool City Council recently said its Experimental Traffic Road Order (ETRO) would remain under review over the next 18 months and further changes could Dan Barrington, cabinet member for transport, said: "A key aim of the Experimental Zone is tackling the problem of commuter parking 365 days a year, as well as illegal and unsafe parking on double yellow lines and pavements."These issues impact the area all year round and it's vital we get this right to support its economic development and to tackle congestion, especially as more businesses set up here and more residential schemes are developed." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Everton stadium parking zone could 'kill jobs'
Thousands of people have signed a petition claiming a proposal to implement a parking zone around Everton's new stadium will "kill businesses". From Monday, when the first test event takes place at the £500m Bramley-Moore Dock site, restrictions will come into force similar to those already in place around Goodison Park and Anfield stadiums. The restrictions mean any business within a 30-minute walk of the stadium must pay an annual £50 permit per vehicle to park at anytime - not just on match days. Liverpool City Council said a consultation was under way and urged people to get in touch with feedback. The petition signed by almost 7,000 people, claims the restrictions could "kill businesses and put late-night workers in danger," the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. It was set up by Paul Blair, who operates Hot Water Comedy Club based at Blackstock Street Market within the proposed zone. Comedian Paul Smith, resident compere at the club, also took to Instagram to criticise the proposals, which he described as "stupid". "It's unbelievably overzealous what they've done," he wrote. "We understand there needs to be matchday parking restrictions, there's going to be lots of people coming into the area. "But they have basically said no parking at any time in a lot of the surrounding areas which is affecting thousands of businesses, residents that can't have visitors around, it's completely overzealous, it's stupid." Mr Smith also argued that the restrictions posed risks to staff leaving late night venues who would be unable to afford to park outside their workplaces. Fraser Smith, managing director of Downland Bedding on Blackstock Street, also criticised the plans. He said: "It affects the businesses that are established and are employing people all year round for what essentially is 23 days a year at Everton stadium, it doesn't seem right." More than 4,000 residents and 3,000 businesses have been invited to apply for the relevant parking permits ahead of the zone going live under an Experimental Traffic Road Order (ETRO). The ETRO will run for up to 18 months and will be reviewed by the council's highways and transportation team. Residents will be able to apply for a permit for each vehicle registered at their address and one, no-fee visitor permit. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. Everton stadium parking plan 'frustrating' for firms New Everton stadium fan zone planned at train station Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
15-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Everton stadium parking zone could 'kill jobs'
Thousands of people have signed a petition claiming a proposal to implement a parking zone around Everton's new stadium will "kill businesses". From Monday, when the first test event takes place at the £500m Bramley-Moore Dock site, restrictions will come into force similar to those already in place around Goodison Park and Anfield stadiums. The restrictions mean any business within a 30-minute walk of the stadium must pay an annual £50 permit per vehicle to park at anytime - not just on match City Council said a consultation was under way and urged people to get in touch with feedback. The petition signed by almost 7,000 people, claims the restrictions could "kill businesses and put late-night workers in danger," the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. It was set up by Paul Blair, who operates Hot Water Comedy Club based at Blackstock Street Market within the proposed zone. Comedian Paul Smith, resident compere at the club, also took to Instagram to criticise the proposals, which he described as "stupid". "It's unbelievably overzealous what they've done," he wrote. "We understand there needs to be matchday parking restrictions, there's going to be lots of people coming into the area. "But they have basically said no parking at any time in a lot of the surrounding areas which is affecting thousands of businesses, residents that can't have visitors around, it's completely overzealous, it's stupid."Mr Smith also argued that the restrictions posed risks to staff leaving late night venues who would be unable to afford to park outside their workplaces. Fraser Smith, managing director of Downland Bedding on Blackstock Street, also criticised the plans. He said: "It affects the businesses that are established and are employing people all year round for what essentially is 23 days a year at Everton stadium, it doesn't seem right."More than 4,000 residents and 3,000 businesses have been invited to apply for the relevant parking permits ahead of the zone going live under an Experimental Traffic Road Order (ETRO).The ETRO will run for up to 18 months and will be reviewed by the council's highways and transportation team. Residents will be able to apply for a permit for each vehicle registered at their address and one, no-fee visitor permit. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
