A leading Shrewsbury businessman today issued a call for free parking on one day of the week and a day free of parking wardens to help boost trade which has been hit by the national credit crunch.
Simon Airey, chairman of Shrewsbury Business Chamber, said trade was tough with the impact of economic problems nationally and roadworks in the town centre.
On Thursday Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council bosses revealed that parking charges in the town could be cut on certain days of the week to help boost trade instead of free parking being introduced on Sundays.
They had been asked to draw up a report about the possibility of free parking being introduced on Sundays.
But, they are now meeting business groups to get their views on the way forward.
Council bosses say free parking would cost the council at least £100,000 in lost revenue.
They are investigating whether this would be better invested in other ways such as reduced parking fees on other days of the week.
Mr Airey has previously said that a reduction in parking tariffs would provide a much needed boost - although the benefits may be shortlived.
Today he pleaded for something to be done about parking in the town to help encourage more people in to shop and boost trade.
He believes free parking on a Thursday may be the best way forward as this is a notoriously poor day for trading.
He said: “If there was one day that was free to park that would be something that would have a good chance of being taken on by the unitary and would be for the long-term, whereas a reduction in parking tariffs across the board may not be carried on.”
But he said Sunday trade was also in need of a boost and he would like to see parking wardens taken off the streets on that one day of the week to help get more people into the town.
“Free Sunday parking would benefit the multiples more, but we need them as much as the independent traders,” he said.
“That would make the town more of a shopping destination for residents, tourists and visitors on a Sunday.”
By John Kirk
9 Comments
Does he seriously want a day where anyone will be able to park anywhere for as long as they like? What a ridiculous idea. There would be cars parked in disabled bays, on double yellow lines, and in loading bays. How would that benefit anyone, let alone Shrewsbury traders?
People shop in Shrewsbury when there are the shops to attract them. That’s nothing to do with parking enforcement.
perhaps scc could be persuaded to hang up their spades for a week
For Gods sake Mr Airey don’t try to resuscitate Shrewsbury town centre - it is dead - its life support was switched off with the consent of Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council by Dr Parkright a long time ago.
Forget a ‘Parkfree’ day and instead arrange a memorial service with 3 minutes silence in the Square.
there are 3 free parking areas around the town known as park and ride, all you pay for is the bus ride. when i come up to town i hate the pride hill area but love shrewsbury market and it’s stalls. off the beaten track there are some lovely antiques markets and second hand bookshops. i cannot agree the town is dying on its feet but i for one would bulldoze the two shopping centres off pride hill, and why cannot the size of shrewsbury warrant a purpose built post office as it had.
I wonder how many people complaining about the roadworks in town have previously moaned or complained about the state of the roads and footpaths in the town? work has to be done so why complain. I am using the town centre as much now as I usually do, its my home town and im going to remain loyal to it, the work is not going to go on forever so im happy to put up with it.
i’m sorry but a day for free parking is a great idea, don’t live in town at moment but one day of safe only parking great… were i am at moment there is one car park of 300 cars free everday, the town is always busy.Its about time something is given back, instead of take take all the time
a barrell of oil hit $130 dollars today, it is expected to be $150 by september and $200 by early next year, with petrol at £1.50 a litre how about a fleet of horse drawn buses around town. the horse will quickly become part of out lives, so make sure s and a council provide sufficient horse troughs. these are not future notes of doom the oil rises are with us now and puts into perspective one days free parking.
traders should be more concerned just how much their goods are going to cost to deliver. soon shrewsbury market will have lots of local traders selling their vegetables and home made goods, exactly what the former market was designed for
dont people read signs in shrewsbury were parking is avalble on sundays free.meters on street free,loading bays,single yellow lines.short stay turns into all day parking for small charge,i would rather have the wadens walking around keeping an eye on cars safty than not.i am happy to pay for parking,why should it be free,i dont expect not to pay for my shopping or coffe just because its sunday.
I think a flat rate of £1.00 all day on a Sunday would be acceptable, as they apply in Telford. If you can afford to drive the car into town, then you can afford to pay a pound for the pleasure.