Furioys locals are waging war on van drivers who they claim keep taking up parking spaces at a beauty spot. A van hire company in Wirral has upset locals by parking its vehicles all over a popular tourist spot, Kings Parade in Wallasey.
The company, West Wallasey Van Hire, is looking for land to expand its business and has been accused of taking over car parking spaces, Liverpool Echo reports.
The company tried to buy a site near its base for more than £150,000 last year. However, the council turned down the offer due to worries about increased traffic, loss of green space and flood plain in the area.
The council stated that the company’s current site is at full capacity and can’t support its future growth plans. They are considering options to expand at their current location, facilitated by buying the land discussed in this report. If not possible, the company may have to look outside of the borough for its growth ambitions.
The local business employed 280 people, and if the sale had happened, job opportunities could’ve increased with an additional 250 jobs. The company has been very successful since it started 50 years ago, becoming one of the top independent van hire companies in the UK. However, its latest decision has upset the public.
Wallasey councillor Lesley Rennie said: “During the summer, residents endured vans parked in Green Lane and other residential roads. The company now appears to be using high-profile locations to store large numbers of their vehicles, for free, while they seek the council’s help to find off road sites elsewhere in the Borough.”
“To park this number of vehicles on Kings Parade is wholly inappropriate and, I’m afraid, is not endearing the company to people who live nearby or who wish to use the promenade.”
Councillor Ian Lewis said: “This company reported a profit of £71million last year suggesting they should be able to afford to park their vehicles off-road. Sadly, this isn’t the first time there have been issues with this company – we’ve had road safety problems around their site on Leasowe Road for years, with additional cost to the taxpayer. Now, it seems, Wirral residents are expected to put up with losing car parking at a key location as well.”
In response, a spokesperson for Wirral Council acknowledged the issue and said: “We are aware of commercial vehicles being parked along Kings Parade and Coastal Drive, New Brighton. We are working with the company concerned to try to find a solution to their parking needs.”
Express.co.uk has contacted West Wallasey Van Hire for comment.
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