Shropshire Council hikes car parking charges

Shropshire Council wants to increase the cost of parking in council-owned car parks and on-street parking areas

Plans to increase car parking charges in Shropshire have been approved.

Shropshire Council will increase the cost of parking in its council-owned car parks and on-street parking areas.

For example in Shrewsbury, the Frankwell main car park, Riverside and Quay will rise from 80p per hour to £1.20 per hour.

The changes are being proposed to encourage drivers to park elsewhere or walk, cycle and use public transport in Shrewsbury.

Outside the county town, the authority says proceeds will be used to improve car parks.

Parking charges in Ludlow, Bridgnorth, Oswestry, Ellesmere, Whitchurch, Market Drayton, Much Wenlock and Church Stretton will mainly rise by 20p per hour.

Wem and Prees Heath will see the same increase.

However, the Raven Meadows car park in the county town will remain at £2.

Season tickets will also increase: for example, parking at St Julian's Friars in Shrewsbury will go up from £512 per year to £681.

'Frustrating'

Businesses in Shrewsbury worry that the changes will deter people from coming into the town.

Niall Hartshorn, who runs independent shop No. 61 said the changes were "very frustrating".

The tariffs will come into effect on 1 April.