Tradespeople asked for views on proposed new parking waiver system
Tradespeople who may need to park in Shropshire’s market towns while carrying out work are being encouraged to comment on proposed changes to Shropshire Council’s tradesperson ‘parking waiver’ system.
Shropshire Council’s draft new parking strategy – which is out to consultation until 17 October 2017 – proposes to simplify and improve the current waiver system by introducing a new ‘tradesperson/work waiver’ in place of the existing green and red waivers.
Currently, a green waiver allows tradespeople to park in any of Shropshire Council’s car parks or on-street parking bays, loading bays or resident-only bays. It costs £10 per vehicle per day.
Meanwhile, a red waiver allows tradespeople to park on double/single yellow lines or in a disabled bay. It costs £15 per vehicle per day.
The proposed new waiver would cost £20 per vehicle, and be valid for one day.
Steve Davenport, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways and transport, said:
“As part of the review of our parking strategy we’re proposing to end the current system of long-stay and short-stay car parking, by introducing parking tickets that allow you to park without a maximum stay limit in our car parks and on-street pay and display areas.
“If this is agreed it will mean that tradespeople will no longer have to purchase green waivers if they want to park for extended periods. Instead they’ll be able to purchase a ticket for the period of stay required – or they can apply for the new type of waiver.
“However, this is a proposal at this stage and nothing has been decided. We’re therefore eager to hear the views of tradespeople and others before the consultation period ends on 17 October.”
For more information and to take part in the consultation, go to shropshire.gov.uk/parking-consultation and select section 4.
Printed copies of the consultation documents are also available from Shropshire Council libraries and customer service points, and on request by calling 0345 678 9028.
All responses to the parking strategy consultation will be carefully considered before the final proposals are presented to Shropshire Council’s Cabinet in autumn 2017.
Further information
The parking strategy determines the way that Shropshire Council manages and runs its car parks and on-street parking, including how and what it charges for parking. The current strategy was introduced in 2012 and needs to be replaced.
The council has carried out a detailed, evidence-based, review to inform the new draft strategy, and has put forward a number of proposals that will make parking arrangements – both in car parks on on-street – simpler, clearer and more consistent, as well as helping to reduce congestion and pollution in Shropshire’s market towns.
Any extra money generated from these new proposals would be reinvested in improvements to car parks and to the parking service, including the replacement of the existing payment machines to enable payment by card, contactless payments, and payment by mobile phone – along with improvements to car parks, including resurfacing and the widening of parking bays.
The parking strategy consultation is broken down into four parts, as follows:
1. Proposals regarding ‘linear’ (set price per hour) parking; pricing bands; unrestricted parking; evening parking; loading bays; ‘pop and shop’ parking, and opening hours at Raven Meadows car park in Shrewsbury.
2. A new policy and tariff framework for weekly tickets, season tickets, residents’ off-street permits, and for coach and HGV parking.
3. Proposed changes to Shropshire’s Council’s on-street residents’ parking permit scheme.
4. Proposed changes to the car parking waiver system.
People can respond to all four parts, or just the ones that are of interest/relevance to them.
To take part in the consultation, go to shropshire.gov.uk/parking-consultation.
Printed copies of the consultation documents will shortly be available from Shropshire Council libraries and customer service points, and on request by calling 0345 678 9028.
The consultation runs until 17 October 2017.
Subject to approval of any proposals, a further formal traffic regulation order consultation and approval will be required before they are implemented.
