Free parking deal for Wem during gas works

Wales & West Utilities has now started maintenance work in Wem High Street that will see more than 450 metres of gas piping replaced.

The work, which started on Monday, is due to last for about two months and is expected to be completed by March 30.

Shop owners had feared the disruption would cause people to avoid the town and would hit trade.

But Shropshire Council has tried to allay some of those fears by making parking free in the car parks off High Street and Leek Street.

Today traders welcomed the move and said business is operating as usual for anyone wanting to come into the town.

John Murray, who runs Wem Treacle Mine, said: "So far, so good. There were no hold ups on Monday morning and everything was open and working as usual.

"The work is being carried out in stages and a lot of time and effort has been put in to ensure there is minimum disruption.

"Wem is very much open for business and, as always, we will make you feel very welcome.

"Obviously it's early days and if my takings are down I will be crying into my soup, but I believe everything is going to be okay. The disruption is minimal and now people have free parking it means it's a great time to see exactly what Wem has to offer."

Councillor Connie Granger, mayor of Wem, said: "Having lobbied both Shropshire Council and Wales & West Utilities, free parking is great news. "The work obviously needs to be carried out but free parking will bring a much needed boost.

"Over the next eight weeks Wem is very much open for business and I would encourage people to continue supporting our local businesses and facilities during this period,"she said.

Signs and notices have been placed around the town notifying which car parks are free. Motorists will not need to buy a pay and display ticket but season tickets and residents' passes will still need to be shown. Anyone parking in Mill Street car park will have to pay as normal as it is not directly affected by the works.

Peter Hughes, spokesman for Wales & West Utilities, said: "We know that working in communities is disruptive for local people and visitors and we have done our best to plan a gas mains replacement scheme for Wem that will limit this inconvenience as much as possible.

For local traders, it will be business as usual while we are on site and we have put up signs to clearly show this. Phased road closures and temporary parking restrictions will be needed as our work progresses but we have been working closely with Shropshire Council in planning this scheme and have agreed alternative free parking arrangements with them."

Yesterday traders in nearby Ellesmere said business had been hit hard by gas works in the town centre. The £100,000 work will finish this week, and Lincoln McMullan, chairman of the town's chamber of trade, praised the water company for trying to keep disruption to a minimum.