It’s understood the incident occurred after “residents parking only” signs were put up
The cars spray-painted on Woolton Road in Garston(Image: Handout)
People who parked near a Liverpool railway station have had their cars spray-painted. The incident is understood to have happened on Woolton Road in Garston on Wednesday, October 15, between 8am and 4pm.
Pictures taken by an eyewitness, who did not want to be named, and sent to the ECHO showed a black Mercedes and a black Audi with a line of white spray paint across the passenger side doors. A white Kia also parked on the road was spray-painted with a line of black, also on the passenger side.
One person told the ECHO that the road is often used by commuters using Liverpool South Parkway train station, which is a six-minute walk from Woolton Road. They added that people living in the area have recently put up signs which read “residents parking only”.
The person added that the incidents of spray paint followed the signs being put up. It is understood that Merseyside Police have been contacted in regards to the damage.
Liverpool South Parkway has 311 free car parking spaces, however vehicles cannot be left overnight at Merseyrail park and ride sites. This isn’t the only incident of “parking wars” in recent weeks.
The cars spray-painted on Woolton Road in Garston(Image: Handout)
The ECHO previously reported cars parked on Hale Road in Speke, close to Liverpool John Lennon Airport (JLA), had been smashed up and left for days.
When the ECHO visited the busy road, a reporter spotted two cars that had been damaged. The driver and all of the passenger windows of a white Hyundai had been smashed in, while the back window had been hit too.
Three windows of a blue Volvo had also been fully smashed, with damage also sustained to the back window. The car had also been egged and one of its tyres had been punctured.
People living on the street said the cars had been parked there for several days and added they had spotted the damage on Saturday, September 27. They believe the cars belong to holidaymakers.
The cars spray-painted on Woolton Road in Garston(Image: Handout)
They said many holidaymakers, taxi drivers and regular drivers use the street to avoid paying for parking at the airport, either by using it as a drop-off and pick-up point or leaving their cars on the road for the entirety of their trip away.
The express drop-off point at JLA is located directly opposite the terminal. It costs £6 to stay there for up to 10 minutes and £10 for 20 minutes.
Passengers with a valid Blue Badge can claim up to 40 minutes of free parking, while motorcycles can park free of charge in designated outdoor spaces.
The ECHO was on Hale Road for around an hour and during this time noticed several people and taxis using it for this purpose. A spokesperson for the airport said it is looking into ways to deter passengers from doing this.
One resident, who asked not to be named, said damage to vehicles and airport users abusing the road is a common occurrence.
Smashed up cars parked up on Hale Road in Speke (Image: Liverpool Echo)
He said: “It happens all the time. You get people dropping off and picking up all hours of the day and night. Doors slamming, beeping, things like that.
“We’ve had people park in front of our driveway in the past so you can’t get out. Now we tend to park the car on the road instead. Sometimes they say, ‘we’ll only be 20 minutes’ but that’s still a problem.
“My wife’s just gone to pick up my son from school because he’s not well. We would have been stuck if a car had been parked there.
“People have been talking [about the smashed windows] on the local Facebook group. Some have said, ‘you’ve got to respect other people’s property’.
“But where’s the respect for my property when they park in front of it?
“I understand people want to save money, but you’re spending £300 on a holiday and want to save £6 on parking? Plus, if you park in one of the official car parks it’s a secure site.”
This car had smashed windows and it had also been egged(Image: Liverpool Echo)
There is also a bus route off Hale Road which takes passengers directly into the airport, which the man said many people aren’t aware of.
When the ECHO approached JLA for a response, an airport spokesperson said: ”We are looking at ways to try to deter passengers from being dropped off and picked up on roads close to the airport, which is also causing disruption and is a nuisance for local residents at all hours of the day and night.”
The ECHO has also approached Merseyside Police and Liverpool City Council for comment on the parking situation on Hale Road.
Michelle Ingram, neighbourhood policing inspector for Speke, said: “We are aware of vehicles being damaged in the area and the additional problems with some taxi drivers causing a nuisance to residents and the wider community.
“We have set up a working group with the airport and Liverpool City Council where we are looking at long-term problem solving and the implementation of traffic controlling measures in an effort to reduce the problems being caused to the community.
“We have also requested extra high visibility patrols to the area particularly during the night when there is an increase in issues.
“In addition, we have community surgeries regularly in the area to listen to the concerns of the local residents and would encourage anyone with questions to attend one of those surgeries.”