New Oswestry discount stores could hit car park revenue
The building of two discount supermarkets on the edge of Oswestry is expected to lead to a cut in income from car parks.
Oswestry Town Council's proposed budget includes a predicted £40,000 cut in the money made from pay and display machines in the three town centre car parks that it runs.
These are the Central and Smithfield car parks and the Horsemarket.
Town clerk David Preston said that while it may not be the case that numbers coming into the town centre will be affected by the opening of Aldi and Lidl, budget setting must err on the side of caution when setting its budget.
The town council's draft budget predicts that the income from Central car park in 2016/17 will be £455,025, down from the £485,284 expected to have come in by the end of March.
Income from the Smithfield car park is expected to be £85,000, down £5,000, and the Horsemarket £80,000, also down £5,000.
Historically, much of the income which goes into the town council's coffers has come from Oswestry's markets and its car parks.
The council's budget and the setting of its precept – the money added to the council tax of those who live within the town – will be decided at a meeting on Monday.
A report to councillors from Mr Preston is recommending that there should be no increase in the precept, meaning Band D taxpayers would see £69.92 added to their bills.
The report says major spending by the town council in the coming 12 months will include £120,000 to upgrade the remaining 350 footway lights in Oswestry to LED bulbs.
There are already 100 of the new lights in place.
Priority will also be given to new building public toilets on Central car park in the town. Another £20,000 will go towards improvements to Oswestry cemetery and a £40,000 increase in the budget for Christmas lighting.
