Telford's free council car parks to stay free

Only three council-run car parks in the Telford area impose charges

No charges will be introduced at free car parks run by Telford and Wrekin Council, the authority has said.

The councillor responsible for economy and neighbourhood services, Lee Carter, said he wanted to boost the borough's high streets.

He was responding to a question from Newport councillor Peter Scott who said shoppers were finding it hard to find car park spaces.

Mr Scott suggested bringing in parking charges might ease the problem.

Only three of the council's 27 car parks impose charges, with Mr Carter telling last week's full council meeting: "We have made a cast iron pledge to retain free parking on all council-owned car parks that are currently parking fee free."

Mr Scot had said: "In Newport and other areas within the borough we are still seeing cars needing to find spaces in our car parks, particularly shoppers and those who work in our towns."

Mr Carter said the authority was working with Newport Town Council on plans for managing long and short-stay car parking.

Telford and Wrekin Council collected £735,000 from "sales, fees and charges" linked to off-street parking fines in the last financial year. This was against a figure of £683,000 in expenditure.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.