Liverpool church parking row after hearse forced to stop in road

Parking enforcement concerns grow after Liverpool church access problems

Liverpool church parking row grows as hearse forced to stop in road Parking concerns have been raised outside St Anne's Church in Edge Hill after parishioners said vehicles staying beyond the three-hour limit have made it difficult for funeral processions to stop outside the entrance. New restricted parking bays were installed on Overbury Street around four weeks ago following concerns about long-stay parking in the area. The bays allow motorists to park for up to three hours, but parishioners say some vehicles are being left for much longer without appearing to face enforcement action. John Doyle, a parishioner who had campaigned for the parking restrictions, said he was pleased when the new bays were introduced but has since become concerned about the lack of monitoring. He said the situation can become particularly difficult during church services, when the available parking spaces are already in high demand. The problem is also affecting funerals and weddings, according to parishioners. They say vehicles occupying the restricted bays can prevent funeral cars from stopping outside the church entrance. Photographs seen by the Liverpool Echo appeared to show some of the same cars parked in the bays on different days. Other images showed a funeral cortege, including a hearse, stopped in the middle of the road because the spaces outside the church were occupied. Father Peter Morgan, the priest connected to St Anne's Church, said there can be two or three funerals at the church each week and that parking difficulties can make things particularly challenging for mourners. The parking restrictions were introduced to improve access and address concerns about parking in the area, but parishioners now want greater enforcement to ensure the three-hour limit is followed. There have also previously been concerns about parking controls around the rear of the church, where double yellow lines had been left alongside a former bus stop. John Doyle said he had asked for those markings to be removed after parishioners received parking tickets there. Liverpool City Council said the parking bays were introduced to improve access and address parking concerns around the church. The council said drivers are expected to follow the restrictions and park responsibly, adding that enforcement officers work across the city and that investment in parking enforcement is continuing. The authority also said vehicles found breaking parking restrictions may receive a Penalty Charge Notice and that specific concerns about compliance will be reviewed as part of its ongoing assessment of enforcement activity and priorities. For drivers using restricted parking bays, the situation is a reminder that maximum stay limits apply even when parking spaces are available. Staying beyond the permitted time can lead to enforcement action where restrictions are monitored. For St Anne's Church and its parishioners, the focus is now on whether the newly introduced parking controls can provide the access they were intended to create, particularly when services, funerals and other important events are taking place.