Free parking after Bridgnorth parking machines vandalised

Bridgnorth Town Council took the decision to remove all parking charges, at a cost of thousands of pounds, from Severn Park in Low Town after the machines were smashed up in May.

Councillors will discuss the current situation during a meeting of the council's administration and general purposes committee tonight.

Town clerk Anne Wilson will give an update to members about the car parking machines, which are due to be replaced imminently with larger screens to make it easier for motorists to use, and the loss of income to the council.

The number plate recognition machines were installed in 2011 to stop visitors evading charges and boy racers targeting the site.

Councillor David Cooper, mayor of Bridgnorth, said: "The machines were vandalised over a Bank Holiday weekend in May.

"Once that happened it meant we could no longer take payments in cash for the car park.

"It was agreed it would be too much hassle for everyone to pay by phone so the decision was taken to suspend the charges.

"It was not possible to replace them because it was a crime scene at the time, which has meant Severn Park has had free parking for over a month."

The machines, which collected more than 14,000 parking payments during their first two months in service – generating £20,000 of revenue for the town council – have also received numerous complaints from visitors.

Problems have arisen when motorists have accidentally typed in their wrong vehicle registration number, which has led to a £35 fine that can rise to £70 and then bailiff action if not paid within a certain amount of time.

Stephen Carroll, from Cheshire, said he parked in Severn Park on May 6 but was charged after putting in the wrong registration.

The 63-year-old, who stops in the town at least eight times a year while on the way to visit his son in South Wales, said he explained the situation but was still charged for non-payment.

Jim Ball vowed never to return to Bridgnorth after being stung by a parking fine and then threatened with bailiffs earlier this year but Bridgnorth's Chamber of Commerce agreed to pay the fine for him.

The chamber believes signs for the Severn Park car park are misleading and motorists are being unfairly punished.

Chamber chairman Stephen Robbins has previously said members hope the council will not renew the contract with Creative Parking Solutions once it expires. Three cars drove through a fence to avoid facing a fine after being locked in a car park in 2012.