Reminder about new Sunday parking charges in Ludlow and Shrewsbury

Visitors to Ludlow and Shrewsbury are being reminded that new on-street Sunday parking charges will start in the towns from 8am this Sunday (20 January 2013). 

The changes – approved by Shropshire Council’s Cabinet in December 2012 – aim to reduce congestion and encourage drivers to use the towns’ car parks. 

The new on-street Sunday charges will be the same as the existing Monday to Saturday on-street charges. 

As part of the changes to Sunday parking charges, Sunday parking fees in Shropshire Council’s off-street surface car parks in Ludlow and Shrewsbury are now half the weekday fees, and these car parks are now free to use on Bank and public holidays. 

On Sundays and bank holidays the cost of parking at Raven Meadows multi-storey car cark in Shrewsbury is half the cost of parking there on a weekday. 

This means that, for example, on a Sunday, to park in the Abbey Foregate long stay car park in Shrewsbury now costs only £1.40 all day, and to park in the Smithfield long stay car park in Ludlow costs just £1.00 all day. 

Other changes to on-street parking to be implemented from Sunday (20 January) are: 

The times of operation of the pay and display bays in Shrewsbury will change to 8am to 6pm, from 8.30am to 6pm. 

• The days of the loading bays in Shrewsbury will change to Monday to Sunday, from Monday to Saturday. 
• The times and days of operation of the single yellow lines in Shrewsbury will change to Monday to Sunday 8am to 6pm, from Monday to Saturday 8am to 6.30pm. 

The signs and machine software will be getting altered and completed this week, but the new charges will start on Sunday 20 January.

Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for parking, said: 

“We want to remind people that on-street parking charges come into effect in Shrewsbury and Ludlow this Sunday.  But we also want to remind people that we’ve reduced the cost of parking in our off-street car parks in these towns on Sundays.  We hope these changes will encourage people to visit Shrewsbury and Ludlow on a Sunday, and to stay for longer, providing a real boost to traders in these towns. 

“And by encouraging long-stay vehicles to park in car parks, rather than on the street, we hope congestion in these towns will be reduced, allowing a greater number of people easier access to the town centre services and facilities. 

“This isn’t currently being achieved in Shrewsbury and Ludlow on Sundays, and this is something which the introduction of Sunday on-street parking charges aims to address, as well as providing additional funds that can be put towards our public transport services.” 

The introduction of Sunday on-street parking charges in Shrewsbury and Ludlow will cost around £6,000, but will increase the level of income by around £30,000 each year. 

Income from on-street parking is put towards providing the Park and Ride bus services in the two towns, with any surplus used to subsidise local bus services.