Cash-strapped Wem council set to approve parking charges

Controversial parking charges look set to be introduced in Wem after councillors revealed they can't afford the £55,000 a year needed to keep them out of the town.

Shirehall bosses told members of Wem Town Council they will have to pay the money if they want to stop plans being enforced in the town, its mayor said today.

The proposals have previously come under fire from residents who claim charges would hit businesses hard, which could eventually "kill" the town.

Councillor Mandy Mea-kin, mayor of Wem, said: "There is no way we can afford the £55,000 a year to stop parking charges being introduced in Wem. I don't know what other options we have left. It is ruining the id-ea of Cameron's Big Society.

"We have a lot of low paid and part-time workers in Wem. We also have a lot of people who give up their free time to do volunteer work and to expect them to have to then pay to come into the town is not fair."

Proposals could see parking on Mill Street, High Street and Leek Street car parks cost 50p for two hours and £1.80 all day.

They also include charging from 8am to 6pm every day and allowing free parking for 45 minutes at High Street car park.

The news comes days after Market Drayton Town Council reaffirmed its decision not to co-operate with Shirehall bosses over car parking charges.

At a meeting last Thursday, town councillors voted to write to Shropshire Council to inform them of their refusal to co-operate with any future consultations on car park charges.

The decision was first taken last November in protest at plans to introduce charges on Towers Lawn car parks from April.