Outrage at plan to increase Shrewsbury car parking charges

SHREWSBURY TOWN centre traders today reacted with outrage after council chiefs unveiled plans to increase parking charges – just a week after they were begged to lower them.

Business leaders accused Shropshire Council chiefs of being "idiotic" and claimed their new proposals would destroy the town centre.

Campaigners said they were amazed the authority was even contemplating increasing car parking charges when they had been warned it was having a massive detrimental impact on traders already suffering in a dismal economic climate.

The council wants to increase charges for a number of pay and display bays on town centre streets by 10p for up to one hour's parking, by 20p for over an hour, and 30p for over an hour-and-a-half.

It also wants to increase the hours of operation of the pay and display parking bays so that they start at 8am, 30 minutes earlier than at present. But the council says motorcycle parking would be free and more accessible, with specific bays being available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Councillor Peter Nutting, leader of Shrewsbury Town Council, who runs a sports shop in the town, today said he believed Shropshire Council needed an urgent rethink.

He said: "To move it from 8.30am to 8am is ridiculous and causes problems for everybody who might live here or come to visit if they leave their car in town overnight."

John Hall, from the Shop in the Loop group, said he had been left stunned by the latest plans.

He said: "I think it's basically idiotic. If they are looking to destroy Shrewsbury town centre they are certainly going about it in the right way."

Simon Airey, president of Shrewsbury Business Chamber, said: "I think it's disgraceful and it shows that they don't understand and they aren't listening. It's extremely arrogant and they see it as an easy way to make money."

Councillor Simon Jones, Shropshire Council cabinet member for transport, said: "We are currently talking with traders about how to encourage more people to shop in Shrewsbury town centre, and we appreciate any increase in parking charges won't be popular."

He added: "When full council agreed the budget in March, it included an annual increase of inflation plus four per cent for parking charges as a way of protecting frontline services in the face of recent Government spending cuts."