Have your say on traffic management proposals to support Shropshire’s transport network

Shropshire Council is inviting residents, businesses and visitors to comment on traffic management and parking charges proposals designed to manage demand, support access to town centres and contribute to improvements across the county’s transport network. 

The consultation, running from 29 October to 26 November 2026, forms part of the council’s wider development of its transport strategy. It looks at how parking arrangements can help reduce congestion, improve the availability of spaces and encourage sustainable travel where appropriate, rather than considering parking charges in isolation. 

Under the proposals, some hourly charges would rise, some would fall and others would stay the same. This means that different tariffs reflect the needs of different locations, rather than a blanket increase. 

Parking income also has a role in supporting the wider transport system. Surplus income can be reinvested in parking facilities, improvements to streets and public spaces, Park and Ride and other transport infrastructure, creating sustainable alternatives to the private car. 

The consultation covers: 

• Parking tariffs and tariff bands. 

• Charging days and hours. 

• Sunday and bank holiday charging arrangements. 

• On-street parking and council-run car parks. 

• A proposal for Sunday Park and Ride in Shrewsbury. 

Affected locations include Shrewsbury, Ludlow, Bridgnorth, Oswestry, Ellesmere and Much Wenlock. There are no changes proposed for Market Drayton, Whitchurch, Wem, Broseley, Church Stretton, Cleobury Mortimer and Bishop’s Castle.  The proposals are identified in the recent Cabinet report as a county-wide key decision affecting all electoral divisions. 

Councillor Rob Wilson, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for transport and regeneration, said: 

“Parking is an important part of how our transport network works. The way we manage it can help keep town centres accessible, reduce congestion and ensure spaces are available to more people throughout the day. 

 “These proposals strike an important balance between maintaining choice for motorists, supporting the vitality of our town centres and ensuring the long-term sustainability of transport services across the county. This is why which is why some charges are proposed to increase, some to decrease and others to remain unchanged.  

 “We are also looking at parking more holistically, including residents’ parking schemes, the first steps in reintroducing Sunday and evening bus services for the first time in over a decade, and wider improvements to how people travel around the county. 

“Parking income can also help support the wider transport network, including improvements to parking facilities, Park and Ride services and alternatives to travelling by car. 

“We recognise that many people in a rural county rely on their cars. We want residents, businesses and visitors to look at the proposals for the places they use and tell us what they would mean for them.” 

The proposed hourly tariff changes are: 

• Band 1: £4.80, compared with £3.60 currently. 

• Band 2: £3.80, compared with £2.80 currently. 

• Band 3: £2.00, compared with £1.40 currently. 

• Band 4: £1.00, compared with £1.20 currently. 

Lower hourly tariffs of 70p and 40p, and existing free parking arrangements, would remain unchanged. 

The council’s benchmarking identifies parking charges as a traffic-management tool, helping to manage demand in busy centres and encourage turnover of the most central spaces while maintaining a range of parking choices. 

Shropshire has historically gone three to five years between substantive reviews of parking tariffs, which has meant larger increases. The proposal is to a move towards more regular reviews among comparable councils, including annual or biennial approaches, alongside charges tailored to location and demand.  Residents, businesses and visitors can read the proposals and share their views by 26 November 2026.