A huge decision on whether or not Wirral Council will set up new car parking charges across the borough is set to be made next week.

The issue has become highly controversial since the authority committed to making £1m from charging at several off-street and coastal car parks which are currently free in its March budget, as well as raising charges in some areas.

In June, Wirral Council's Environment and Transport Committee voted to bring in new parking charges at car parks in Bromborough, Bebington, Hoylake and New Brighton, among other places.

The committee also voted to standardise the fees every council-run car park in Wirral would charge, choosing the rate of £1 per hour for the first four hours, with a maximum charge of £5 for a full day of parking.

But Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors used the 'call-in' mechanism to try to get the decision overturned at a committee made up of different councillors, which met last Thursday.

However, after a marathon five-and-a-half-hour meeting, the Decision Review Committee was adjourned without coming to a verdict.

This committee will reconvene on Tuesday, August 10, at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton to make its final decision.

While next Tuesday's meeting could agree to go ahead with the new parking charges, it may also defer the decision to a full council meeting, the Policy and Resources Committee or the Environment and Transport Committee.

Arguing in favour of bringing in the new parking fees at last week's committee meeting, Labour councillor Liz Grey stressed other cuts which could be made if the proposal was rejected.

Cllr Grey said: "We know full well what the alternatives could be.

"The alternative proposals, were we to continue to subsidise parking, were: Closure of leisure centres, axing lollipop men and women, getting rid of our golf land, closing the art gallery, closing public toilets and compulsory redundancies."

Speaking this morning, Green Party councillor Chris Cooke said all parties had agreed to raise parking charges in the March budget meeting and it was important to make parking pay for itself.

Cllr Cooke added: "There is also that nudge element if people don't want to pay for parking.

"If getting a bus costs more than parking and petrol then there's something wrong. We're discriminating against people who have no choice but to use public transport."

The Prenton councillor also thought the length of last week's meeting was far too long and said he would be putting forward ways to speed such committees up in the future.

But other parties disagreed.

Cllr Phil Gilchrist, leader of the Lib Dem group on Wirral Council, said: "Plans for charges in Bromborough were scrapped in 2017 due to their 'unintended negative consequences' [a quote by former Labour council leader Phil Davies at the time].

"The same conditions, with the retail park just down the road, apply today. In fact, even more so, with Lidl about to open on the retail park.

"I am determined that the clear case about the impact on Bromborough will be made."

Conservative councillor Simon Mountney said: "It is clear after 5 hours of witness testimony that these charges are ill-advised and unwelcome.

"Each witness, from local residents to business owners, stated the significant and detrimental impact these charges would have on them."

Cllr Mountney added: "We need to support our high streets through this pandemic. Our beautiful coastline should remain free and accessible to residents for their enjoyment and wellbeing."