Refunds offer to Ellesmere parking fine motorists

Motorists who have been given parking tickets on Ellesmere's new pay and display car parks are to be given refunds.

Traffic wardens have been slapping fines on vehicles cars that have not been displaying car park tickets since the charges were introduced at the beginning of the month.

But the enforcement team has now been ordered out of town and told not to return for the next fortnight.

Shropshire councillor Ann Hartley said this infringed an agreement that no tickets would be handed out during the introduction of the new payment scheme.

Councillor Hartley, Councillor for Ellesmere Urban said: "I have been made aware that traffic enforcement action has been ongoing in the Ellesmere town centre, despite agreement that this would not be the case, whilst new measures are being introduced.

"The enforcement team have been removed from the area and will not return for at least the next two weeks.

"I would like to offer my sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused as we move toward a new parking scheme in Ellesmere."

Lincoln McMullan, chairman of Ellesmere Chamber of Commerce, said: "If people have been given them when they shouldn't have, they should be given refunds.

"The council shouldn't be giving out too many tickets until all the signage telling people what's going on has been upgraded."

Parking fees starting at 10p for up to two hours began in Ellesmere on Wednesday after Shropshire Council agreed to give the town an extra month before introducing them to allow for residents' parking schemes to be implemented.

A new trader-only car park by the Wharf has also opened to free up spaces for shoppers in the town centre car parks.

Traders using the 200-space car park will have to pay £2 a year for a permit to park there.

If you have received a ticket within Ellesmere town centre over the past two weeks, contact the Shropshire Council customer service centre on 0345 678 9000 or e-mail cus tomer.service@shrop shire.gov.uk If you paid a fine contact the centre for a full refund.

By Sue Austin and James Pugh