Councillors asked to support review of council’s parking strategy

Councillors on Shropshire Council’s Place Overview Committee will this week (Thursday 29 September 2022) be asked to support and comment on a review of the council’s parking strategy, to ensure that it better reflects changing priorities and adapting travel patterns.

The current parking strategy was approved by the council’s Cabinet on 17 January 2018 and is set to be reviewed over the next six months, before going out to public consultation.

Since the strategy was adopted many things have changed: travel and working behaviours have changed since the start of the Covid pandemic, and there is now a greater focus locally and internationally on reducing carbon emissions generated by travel.

The review will also ensure that the strategy complements the council’s emerging Local Plan, Economic Growth Strategy, Local Transport Plan, Bus Service Improvement Plan, Active Travel Strategy and plans for cashless payments.

Councillors on the committee will consider and advise on which issues should be considered as part of the review of the strategy, including: dynamic parking charges; current bandings; evening parking; Sunday and Bank Holiday concessions; Christmas concessions; extensions of Pay and Display provision in Shrewsbury; indexation of parking charges; and a review of car parks currently in Band 7 (see notes).

They are also being asked to provide a steer on whether a pricing mechanism should be developed and consulted upon in parallel with the strategy.

Joyce Barrow, Chairman of the Place Overview Committee, said:

“This is the start of a detailed review of the existing parking strategy, which is set to take at least six months, and I’m pleased that the committee will have the opportunity to share our thoughts at this early stage.

“We know that parking is a complex and emotive issue so it’s essential that everyone has the opportunity to have their say, and that the final proposals are fully consulted upon before any changes are implemented.”

All of the proposed measures will require detailed consideration, appropriate public consultation, and decisions by Cabinet before implementation.

Following approval of any changes to the strategy, statutory traffic regulation order procedures will also be required.

A minimum period of six months would be allowed to review the parking strategy and undertake the required consultations, with a rolling programme of implementation during the financial year 2023/24.

Further information

There are seven bands of carparks and on-street parking areas, with bands 1 to 6 currently being chargeable.

In addition to the linear hourly charges, specified car parks also offer:-

• Discounted weekly tickets
• 3-monthly, 6-monthly and 12-monthly season tickets
• Residents’ parking permits
• Tariffs for HGV parking
• Free coach parking.