Market Drayton sales fall blamed on parking charges

Retailers in Market Drayton have seen trade plummet by as much as 40 per cent since controversial parking charges were introduced.

It comes as Shropshire Councillor Jon Tandy issued a call for parking fees in Shrewsbury town centre to be reviewed after an outcry from traders who say they are being crippled by dwindling visitor numbers.

Business leaders in Market Drayton are compiling like-for-like turnover figures comparing trade in the first few months of this year to the same period last year.

And they say results so far show a decline in the amount of money passing through retailers' tills since Shropshire Council imposed new charges on all town car parks on April 1. The council today said it would be happy to discuss concerns.

Andy Brown, chairman of Market Drayton Chamber of Trade, revealed he has asked about 10 of his members to monitor the impact of the charges on levels of trade. He said while only a handful of businesses have responded so far, all have reported a drop in trade of between 15 and 40 per cent.

Mr Brown, who runs the Sport United shop in Shropshire Street, said he hoped the figures might prompt a rethink at Shirehall.

Councillor Tandy has put forward a motion to tomorrow's full meeting of the unitary council, for Shrewsbury parking charges to be discussed.