Parking woes 'will wreck Wellington revamp'

Julie Owen, of Jigsaw Business Management, says the one long stay car park in Wellington is always full and her staff have to keep going out and moving their cars every couple of hours to avoid fines.

Plans have been unveiled jointly by Telford & Wrekin Council and Wellington Town Council through the Vision 2020 Report to bring empty shops back into use and revitalise the town centre. But Ms Owen said it was more important that existing businesses stayed put before adding more. And she warned some could leave unless parking improved.

She said: "Parking needs to be a priority here. My business moved to Old Bakery Row at the start of the year but in the last month we have had two parking fines because they have reintroduced parking attendants.

"There were no attendants until about three weeks ago and without any warning they just started booking people – it is a real problem if you want to sustain a business here.

"While I agree any rules must be enforced, our nearest long stay car park is often full before 8.45am so staff have to park in short stay spaces and keep moving their cars every three hours."

She added: "Businesses in Wellington need parking permits and the town needs more spaces, otherwise companies will be forced to leave and this revitalisation will simply replace what is already here instead of adding to it."

Ms Owen, a fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, moved from Hortonwood to Wellington because her company was expanding and needed bigger premises.

She said while she and other business owners in the town did welcome the plans, they needed to be carefully thought out.

"Of course for vacant shops to come back into use will be great for Wellington and these revitalisation plans are good news," she said.

"But myself and other business owners I have spoken to think it needs to be carefully planned and any proposals need to deal with the problems we already have instead of compacting them even more. Existing businesses are needed to remain in Wellington and parking issues could seriously jeopardise this.

"They need to be added to and improved – the long stay car parks are also not well lit, so if you leave the office in the dark, it's very scary and dangerous going back to your car."

This month Wellington Town Council backed the Vision 2020 project, which includes plans to get the Charlton Arms Hotel up and running again.The town council has given Telford & Wrekin Council £10,000 so a dedicated professional officer can ensure Vision 2020 is delivered.