Boost for Shrewsbury late-night shopping

Park and Ride buses and car parking in most Shrewsbury town centre car parks will be free after 4pm on late-night shopping Wednesdays, as Shropshire Council works with businesses to help boost trade in the town.

Councillors met with the Shop in the Loop organisation this week, and discussed ways the council could help encourage shoppers into the town centre over the Christmas period.

It was agreed to make the Park and Ride service free after 4pm, and all Shropshire Council-owned surface car parks (apart from the Raven Meadows multi-storey and The Strand) will be free after 4pm, on the five late-night shopping Wednesdays starting on 23 November 2011.

Councillor Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for transport, said:

“It was a really positive meeting with Shop in the Loop, and I’m pleased we have been able to agree these concessions which I hope will encourage more people to visit Shrewsbury to do their Christmas shopping.”

Philip Freeman, chairman of Shop in the Loop, added:

“This announcement will be welcomed by town centre traders, and will be a boost for late night shopping in the run up to Christmas.  Parking charges remain a major issue for us, and we hope that this will be the first of a series of helpful initiatives.”

Further notes

• All Shropshire Council-owned surface car parks are free after 6pm all year round.
• On-street car parking charges will remain the same over the Christmas period.