A Merseyside council expects to bring in more than £1m from its car parks across the borough. The latest update comes as Wirral Council explores introducing new parking charges in 2026.

A report published ahead of an environment committee meeting on December 2 gives an update on the local authority’s budget for the current financial year which runs between April 2025 and March 2026.

The council is currently facing an overall budget black hole of £10.5m. This is mainly being driven by rising costs in adult social care though the services covered by the environment committee are forecast to see an overspend of around £813,000.

One thing adding to this is the loss of income from parking charges. In December 2024, Labour and Green councillors voted to introduce new charges at 22 car parks and on roads in three areas as well as increase fees overall.

Currently a number of car parks charge for parking in Wirral and people have to pay on over 130 roads in Birkenhead in and around Hamilton Square. The fees for these car parks have already increased.

However new charges to more car parks as well as roads in New Brighton, Meols, Hoylake, and West Kirby have still not been brought in. The council initially expected to bring them in in September and the decision is being legally challenged.

The environment committee report said the council expected to make £1.08m from its off-street car parks in the budget set in April, though the council is now predicting to see £31,000 less than this.

Wirral Council has said the new charges align with a parking policy approved by all councillors, which set out parking charges needed to be made the same across the borough.

Money is expected to be spent on new car parking equipment in the new year with £250,000 spent before March. The remaining £750,000 is due to be spent in the financial year beginning April 2026.

Despite the financial issues, Conservatives in the council, who opposed the charges along with the Liberal Democrats, are now calling for a pause. In a motion to a December 1 full council meeting, they are suggesting a number of trial schemes such as a 15 minute grace period, free parking on Remembrance Sunday, and looked at periods of free parking in the run up to periods like Christmas.

Cllr Jeff Green said: “At a time when many are doing everything they can to retain staff, keep doors open and continue serving their communities, it is vital that the Council does nothing that unintentionally makes that struggle harder.”

Wirral Council leader Cllr Paula Basnett has indicated no review will be taking place. Councillors were also criticised in two 2021 government reviews for not taking “strategic decisions in the longer-term interests of the council because of the short-term political risks they might create” with parking charges were highlighted as a key example of this.

While a free parking offer has been announced for December in Birkenhead, this only applies to the car parks for the Pyramids Shopping Centre. Charges at other car parks owned by the council in the town still exist but the announcement has been criticised.