Car parking charges: Shropshire a county divided

Town councillors in Oswestry meet tonight to decide whether to cut the cost of parking for one hour in the main Central car park by 10p. But in Ironbridge plans have been unveiled to increase fees to use the town's car parks by about 20 per cent.

In Ellesmere there was an outcry when Shropshire Council introduced car park charges for the first time last year. The cost that everyone was complaining about – just 10p.

The reasoning behind the charge was to stop all day parking in the town's main car park and keep it specifically for shoppers.

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Although the charge for parking for an hour in Oswestry would drop by just 10p from 60p to 50p, the town's mayor Councillor Chris Schofield said if adopted the change could be enough to persuade shoppers to pop into town and support their local stores.

"Oswestry's retail centre is looking good at the moment and anything we can do to encourage more shoppers must be good," he said.

The town council runs three of the town's main car parks. But in Ironbridge, officials at Telford & Wrekin Council have decided to increase charges as the authority looks to bridge a £22 million cash deficit over the next two years.

From May 16, visitors will pay £2.90 to park all day at the town's car parks – an increase of 50p – while a 30-minute stay will rise by 10p to 80p.

A £1 charge will also be introduced for the park and ride service into the World Heritage Site according to the plans unveiled in the council's budget.

Evelina Priestley, from cafe Eighty Six'd in Ironbridge, said she was lucky to have a regular, local clientèle which benefited from being able to park free of charge.

She said: "I understand that the council wants to encourage visitors to use the park and ride scheme, which is just £1. However putting up the car parking charges can not help local businesses."

Shrewsbury councillor and retailer Peter Nutting has been working with Shropshire Council to completely rethink the way in which people pay for their car parking in the town.

A new system could be introduced in the coming months which, he said, would be a more flexible approach to car park charges.

Councillor Nutting, who owns a sports shop in St John's Hill, said it was not so much the cost of parking but the way people pay the charge that he wanted to change.

"The aim is to make it more flexible for people to pay their car park charges," he said. "I would like to get away from the idea of paying £1.60 or £3.10 for example. Why not make the charges £1 or £2 or £3?

"It would mean people would not have to look for change all the time."

The cost of taking vehicle into town:

Oswestry: Oswestry Town Council will decide tonight whether to reduce charges in the central car park from 60p to 50p for up to one hour and raise the fee for parking between one and two hours from 80p to £1. The council also runs the Horsemarket and Smithfield Street car parks in the town – in all three it costs £2 to park for between two and four hours, £3 for up to six hours and £6 for more than six hours.

Market Drayton: It costs 50p to park for up to an hour, 90p for between one and two hours and £1.20 for the maximum three hours at the Frogmore, Queen Street and Towers Lawn car parks. The car park at Newport Road swimming baths is free.

Whitchurch: Charges are in place at the Castle Hill, Pepper Street, Newtown, St John Street and Brownlow Street car parks, where motorists pay 50p to park for up to one hour and £1 for two hours. The main White Lion Meadow car park and the Sherrymill Hill car park are free.

Ludlow: The Smithfield, Upper Galdeford and Castle Street car parks all charge 50p to park for up to one hour, £1.10 for between one and two hours, and £2.40 for between two and three hours.

Bridgnorth: Motorists must pay 80p to park for up to one hour and £1.20 for two hours at the Smithfield, Listley Street North, Listley Street South, Riverside, Innage Lane and Severn Street. The Severn Park car park and privately-owned Old Smithfield car park charge £2 a day, Westgate car park is free.

Shrewsbury: On short stay car parks at Bridge Street, St Austin's and the Tannery motorists are charged £1.50 to park for up to one hour and £3.10 for a maximum of two. Charges vary at other short stay parks at Frankwell Quay, Frankwell Riverside and the Quarry Swimming and Fitness Centre, with three hours' parking costing a maximum of £2.70. Motorists are charged up to £4 for parking at long stay car parks at St Julian's Friars and Frankwell Main and £2.70 to park at Abbey Foregate. Charges at the Raven Meadows multi-storey range from £1.50 for one hour up to £8 for 10 hours. There is also a privately owned NCP car park at the bottom of Wyle Cop.

Telford: Charges are in force on car parks at Telford Shopping Centre. The first 10 minutes are free, half hour costs 50p, £1.10 for two hours and £2.20 for three. Parking for more than three hours costs £3 on long stay car parks and £6 on short stay car parks. Telford & Wrekin Council only charges in the town at Telford Ice Rink.

Ironbridge: From May 16, motorists will have to pay 80p for 30 minutes or £2.90 all day to park at the Wharfage, Dale End, Waterloo Street, The Square and Bower Yard car parks.

Newport & Wellington: All council car parks in both towns are free.