Call to rethink Wem parking charges after trade falls

Wem traders have asked the county council to rethink parking charges after claiming business has been affected dramatically since they were introduced.

John Murray, a town councillor who also owns the Treacle Mine in High Street, Wem, has revealed the off-street charges have hit the town hard since they were introduced by Shropshire Council in April.

He said he was confident his business would survive – but added that he did not intend to replace staff who had recently retired because of the drop in trade.

Councillor Murray said: "The charges have affected trade. I think Shropshire Council needs to have a rethink on the charges."

In April new charges of up to £1.80 a day were introduced in Wem and Market Drayton.

Councillor Steve Glover, deputy mayor of Market Drayton, said: "I have heard in some cases trade is down by about 50 per cent.

"I fear things will only get worse."

He added that a three-monthly evaluation should be carried out in Market Drayton of how trade had been affected since parking charges came into force.

People in Ellesmere were given a one-month reprieve from the new fees, which start at 10p for up to two hours, to allow for residents' parking schemes to be implemented.

But Councillor Alan Clarke, mayor of Ellesmere, said his town was bucking the trend and that parking charges hadn't hit business hard.

He said: "Parking charges haven't affected us at all.

"I go into town every day and the car parks are well used.

"I haven't had anyone come to me with adverse comments about the charges.

"One of the key differences is our trader-only car park which was created. This has really helped."

In Whitchurch the charges were suspended until next month at the earliest so a new car park can be built in Mill Street.

Councillor Simon Jones, Shropshire Council cabinet member, said: "The parking strategy has been introduced to make parking charges fairer across the county."

By James Pugh