U-turn over Sunday parking fees

Free Sunday parking could be introduced across most of Shropshire after a major U-turn by council bosses.

Controversial plans to introduce a £2.50 flat-rate fee in Ludlow, Oswestry, Market Drayton, Bridgnorth and Whitchurch are likely to be axed, leaving just drivers in Shrewsbury facing fees.

Shropshire Council leaders are preparing to agree the U-turn just a week after first recommending the charges, which have sparked a wave of opposition.

They will ditch the idea of a flat rate charge for all towns except Shrewsbury and say fresh talks will be held over what fees – if any – should be introduced in Bridgnorth, Ludlow and Oswestry.

Councillor Simon Jones, cabinet member for transport, wants to scrap all existing Sunday fees.

However, the revised plan still includes imposing a £2.50 fee in Shrewsbury.

Councillor Jones will now hold further talks over whether the same charge should be introduced in Bridgnorth, Ludlow and Oswestry.

"I will instruct the officers to ensure that the views of local members are carefully considered for these towns," he said.

The changes could begin in October, subject to cabinet approval.

At the moment a wide range of charges apply across the county. A full day's parking in some Shrewsbury car parks on a Sunday can cost up to £6.

Car park charges are being reviewed in the wake of a £470,000 drop in income last year.

Although the sites still produced £2.6 million in income, towns such as Shrewsbury, Oswestry and Church Stretton saw a big fall in visitor numbers.