Parking problem may shut firm

An Oswestry businessman claims inflexible parking rules have forced him to consider closing his car sales business and use the site to build flats.

Keith Jones, owner of KC Jones car sales in Oak Street, has lodged a planning application with Oswestry Borough Council for the demolition of his garage. He plans to build six two-bedroom apartments.

Mr Jones stressed today that the application referred only to his Oak Street premises. He says his other site at Oswald Road, where vehicle repairs are carried out, would continue as it is.

He said parking enforcement rules had caused him problems at the Oak Street site, adding: "I would have hoped there would have been some sort of leeway to help businesses but the rules are totally inflexible."

Mr Jones said no jobs would be lost if the Oak Street premises did close because he ran the business.

Ron Buzzacott, Shropshire County Council's traffic manager, said: "We discussed whether any changes could be made to the restrictions at the last quarterly review meeting attended by Oswestry Borough Council, the police and our traffic engineers.

"At this review it was deemed inappropriate to change the restrictions."