Market Drayton has suffered a financial blow after it was revealed that the area is not benefiting from parking charge cash – despite being the only town in the district asking motorists pay up.

Thousands of pounds raised from parking charges will continue to flow into North Shropshire District Council’s coffers, despite demands that the money should be ploughed back into the community.

Civic leaders say the income from the charges should be re-invested in the area where the income is raised.

But town and district Councillor Janet Smith told members of Market Drayton Town Council last night that now North Shropshire District Council’s budget had been set it could be 2008 until the plans were changed.

The news follows repeated calls from town councillors that revenue from parking charges should benefit Market Drayton exclusively as it is the only town in the district operating charges.

But today the district council today said no decision had been made over where the money would go but that it would be looked at in the next few months.

Controversial plans to introduce the scheme across the district were thrown out last September amid a huge public outcry from residents and traders who claimed the fees could kill the economies of Wem, Whitchurch and Ellesmere.

The proposed charges would have netted the authority an estimated £500,000 in two years.

At last night’s full town council meeting Councillor Smith said: “Councillor David Minnery, district leader, told me that a framework wouldn’t be in place until the end of 2007/8 even though we were told it would be dealt with this financial year.”

Town mayor, Councillor Colin Phillips, added the news was a shame as when members agreed parking fees they thought the money would come back into the town’s economy.

He said:”Everyone else backed out saying they didn’t want parking charges, yet the money is going back to the district and being spread out. It’s not right.”

District spokesman Ben Proctor said he had spoken to Councillor Minnery who said he hoped the matter could be resolved as soon as possible and might be looked at in around three months.

By Oliver Cartwright