Fresh look at part of Shropshire Council car parking strategy
Part of Shropshire Council's new controversial parking strategy will be re-examined after it was recently given the go ahead by council bosses.
The authority's cabinet approved the car parking strategy last month, which attracted protests from hundreds of residents and workers in Shrewsbury and Ludlow.
But now the decision to extend the hours tickets are needed to include 6pm to 8pm has been called in by Shropshire Council's Liberal Democrat group members.
The car parks set to have their parking hours extended are Bridge Street, Quarry Swimming and Fitness Centre, St Austin’s, and Shrewsbury Raven Meadows.
Extended charging periods for Ludlow and Shrewsbury's Frankwell car park were proposed but scrapped before the decision went to cabinet.
The decision will be scrutinised at a later date, and the changes will not be implemented until the proposal is scrutinised.
Lib Dem Councillor Nat Green, for Quarry and Coton Hill, said: "If the proposed changes from 6pm to 8pm can be so easily changed by the MP for Ludlow for his area then we feel that it might happen to Shrewsbury too.
"The tone we were getting from officers was that by having parking free from 6pm the night time economy workers are blocking spaces for others.
"We feel that is rather patronising for those who work in the night time economy.
"Many of these workers would have to walk to a car park a lot further away, particularly as many of these workers will be young women and are particularly vulnerable.
"We are concerned that potentially vulnerable workers will suffer as a result."
After the strategy was approved, changes include parking and permits across the county following a ‘linear’ tariff, with all car parks and on-street provision sorted into seven bands.
The charges for each car park in the county will be different, depending on where it is and the demand for spaces.
The cheapest, band seven, includes a car park in Clun where all parking will be free. In contrast, band one charges including on-street parking in Shrewsbury will be £2.50 for every hour.
Band two car parks will charge £1.80 an hour, band three is £1, band four 70p, band five 50p and band six 30p per hour.
The changes are due to be implemented in Shrewsbury in September, Ludlow in November, Bridgnorth in December, Oswestry in January and all other areas in February.
