Scrutiny committee discusses parking consultation findings

A variety of proposed changes to car park charges are being considered by Shropshire Council following a consultation with town and parish councils, local councillors and stakeholders about car parking across the county. 

The council’s Enterprise and Growth Scrutiny Committee discussed the findings of the recent consultation at its meeting on Monday (17 September 2012), which included proposals to revise charging bands and introduce free parking on Sundays in some car parks. 

After extensive debate, the committee agreed to support the recommendations set out in the report, as well as asking officers to look into the possibility of issuing vouchers for visitors when considering residents’ parking schemes in the future.  The proposals will be considered and decided upon by council’s Cabinet on 17 October 2012. 

This consultation, which closed on 10 September 2012, followed a recent review of car parking charges.  It was designed to take on board comments received by the council over the past year, since the introduction of the new car parking strategy in April 2011. 

The main proposals are as follows: 

Car parks (in Whitchurch, Wem, Market Drayton, Much Wenlock and Ellesmere) which currently have charging bands of 10p or free for 0-2 hours and £1.80 for 2-10 hours proposed to change to: 

• 10p for 0-2 hours
• 50p for 2-4 hours
• £1.00 for 4-6 hours
• £1.80 for up to 10 hours 

Sunday parking proposed to be free in the following towns: 

• Market Drayton
• Whitchurch
• Ellesmere
• Wem
• Church Stretton
• Much Wenlock 

Introduce lower charges on Sundays in Shrewsbury, Oswestry. Bridgnorth and Ludlow.  It is proposed that these lower charges will be based on half the week day tariffs. 

Introduce Sunday on-street parking charges in Ludlow and Shrewsbury. 

Introduce free parking in all car parks on Bank Holidays and public holidays, with the exception of Raven Meadows Multi-Storey which will be charged at the revised Sunday rate. 

It is also proposed to update ticket machines so they will be able to accept new 10p coins and new £1 coins when they come into circulation. 

Steve Davenport, Chairman of the Enterprise and Growth Scrutiny Committee, said: 

“Car park charges have understandably created a lot of debate over the past year, and I thought it was important to have a full discussion about what can be done to try to take people’s views on board.   This is what the scrutiny process is all about. 

“If these proposals are approved by Cabinet they will cost the council £218,000 in lost revenue.  However, if we commit to this, these positive parking proposals will go a long way to support local traders and bolster the local economy.”

Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for transport, added: 

“A lot of work has gone into this review and consultation I hope it serves to alleviate some of the concerns that came about following the introduction of the parking strategy last year.  The proposed new charging bands for many market town car parks mean that people will be able to park for up to four hours for just 50p, which seems pretty reasonable to me.  I hope businesses and residents will appreciate that we are doing all we can to ensure shoppers are still able to visit their town centres without being put off by parking charges.” 

For more information, people can read the report here.