Fears raised over shoppers' parking

Residents in a district of Telford fear the closure of a town car park for maintenance work will lead to Christmas shoppers parking outside their homes and blocking driveways.

The car park off Meadow Road in Dawley will be closed for six weeks while resurfacing work takes place. Local councillor Shaun Davies said he had spoken to several residents who were concerned visitors would park outside their homes instead.

Councillor Davies, chairman of the policy and finance committee for Great Dawley Parish Council, said he was pleased the work was finally going ahead - as long as it did not have knock-on effects for residents living nearby.

"Firstly, I welcome the works in the car park," he said.

"The works are overdue and I am delighted that some of the £30,000 that the parish council has dedicated to regeneration over the years is starting to yield improvements.

"However, some residents in Meadow Road, Captain Webb Drive and Attwood Terrace have contacted me with concerns that the car park will be closed.

"They fear it will lead to cars parking in their street causing chaos.

"We need to make sure that active traffic management is in place to ensure that local people are not adversely affected by these works."

The car parks are being resurfaced as part of the regeneration of Dawley as a district town.

Councillor Davies said he was also "deeply concerned" about plans to move the town's weekly market to the Meadow Road car park once the High Street was re-opened to traffic.

"Anyone who goes to the High Street in the week specifically on Fridays will know that Meadow Road Car Park is a busy space," he said.

"If the market is moved to the car park I feel this would cause chaos to local people and affect businesses in the High Street.

"I would much prefer the market to remain in the High Street."

By Wayne Beese