Boost park and ride or lose Shrewsbury shoppers plea

Councillor Roger Evans, leader of Shropshire Council's Liberal Democrat group and representative of Longden in Shrewsbury, said constituents had complained that people were having to queue for buses.

Shoppers would stop heading to Shrewsbury and end up going to Telford or Birmingham instead, he said, adding: "I have had comments from my area to say that with alterations in timings people are having to queue for the park and ride. What it means is some people are not going to Shrewsbury, they are going to that place to the east of us. I do not want them to go there."

Shrewsbury's park and ride was relaunched last year. Although all three park and ride sites at Meole Brace, Harlescott, and Oxon, were retained, there are fewer buses running, with one every 20 minutes instead of "up to every 10 minutes" and "up to every 15 minutes". Buses stop running at 6.20pm

Councillor Evans said that the council needs to investigate any problems with the system, to prevent shoppers going elsewhere.

He said: "We need more frequent buses at peak times because the whole philosophy of park and ride is being able to get on a bus and go into town easily – not being time limited. It is an investment in the economic state of the town. We need to be careful that we do not drive people to go to Telford or into Birmingham."

Speaking at last week's full meeting of Shropshire Council, Councillor Peter Adams, deputy portfolio holder for transport, said: "Although there have been reforms there are still more than 100 buses a day."

Councillor Adams also said that the park and ride system could have disappeared altogether if reforms had not been carried out.

He said: "If we had not had a major change here the recommendation would have been to abolish park and ride. The subsidy to park and ride, which was £300,000 is now down to zero. That money not being paid is ring-fenced for investment in transport."

When the changes were introduced Shrewsbury trader, David Forshaw warned that any extra wait for buses could push people away from the town.

Today Mr Forshaw, of Gemstone Jewellery at Castle Street, said: "The buses are absolutely packed now and some people are waiting 20 minutes for a bus. If you are in Harlescott it only takes 20 minutes to get to Telford. Why are they going to wait 20 minutes for a bus if they can get to Telford in that time? It is going to kill trade."