£4,300 ticket for match day parking ‘business’

Aug 2 2007 by Larry Neild, Liverpool Daily Post

A MAN living in the shadow of Liverpool FC’s stadium has picked up the city’s biggest-ever parking ticket, costing him almost £4,300.

Arthur Robert Farnan was taken to court by the city council for allowing cars to park in the grounds of his large Victorian villa on match days.

Large houses in and around the ground have been allowing between 20 and 50 cars to cram into their extensive gardens, charging between £5 and £7 a vehicle.

Mr Farnan was warned by the council that he needed planning permission to use his grounds as a car park and enforcement action was taken ordering to stop parking on his property.

He was taken to court on two counts of the breaching planning enforcement order. One was for allowing car parking on October 25, 2006, when Liverpool beat Reading 4-3 at home. The other case involved a breach on March 3, 2007, when Manchester United beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield.

The magistrates imposed a fine of £1,500 in each case, and also awarded costs to the council of £1,277.50, taking the total penalty to £4,277.50. Mr Farnan was not in court.

A row of villas lines Anfield Road where Mr Farnan lives, and separates the stadium from Stanley Park where Liverpool FC plan to build their new ground.

Parking problems in and around both Anfield and Goodison Park have been a major headache for some years. Although residents are allowed to park their own cars and the friends of genuine visitors within their own property, allowing parking for a charge would require planning permission from the council.

Last night, Anfield councillor Robbie Quinn welcomed the council’s legal action.

He said: “The problem with illegal parking in gardens is that the cars pouring in and out can prevent ambulances and fire engines reaching emergencies.

“There have been complaints about illegal parking from local residents and I, along with other councillors, have tried to reason with owners. I hope this penalty will send out a clear signal to other property owners that illegal parking will not be tolerated around the grounds on match days.”

Council executive member, Cllr Berni Turner said: “This is great news for people wanting a safer environment. Some of these houses have been accommodating up to 70 cars on match days and they have seen it as a nice little earner. But, as well as being potentially dangerous, it is unfair on genuine business people who pay their tax bills.”

Nobody at the property was available for comment and a neighbour said Mr Farnan was not at home.

larryneild