Controversial plans to scrap free car parking at Telford’s flagship museums have taken a major step forward.Telford & Wrekin Council plans board last night granted permission for three museums in the Ironbridge Gorge to install automatic ticket machines. The Museum of Iron in Coalbrookdale, Blists Hill Victorian Museum in Madeley and Coalport Museum will now start to install the machines.

The move will sound a death knell for free parking in Ironbridge Gorge car parks.

Coalport Museum will install one ticket machine with two machines planned for each of the other museums.

Critics fear the plans could dent moves to attract more visitors to the World Heritage Site.

Residents had complained that the introduction of parking charges would cause parking chaos elsewhere in the gorge as drivers try to avoid paying.

But museum bosses say their plans will “reduce reliance on the private car” and encourage use of sustainable forms of transport.

Telford & Wrekin Council planning officer Shawn Fleet told last night’s meeting: “This will bring the museum car parks into line with other council car parks.

“From a design point of view they are acceptable for the World Heritage Site.”

Plans board members voted unanimously in favour of each application despite complaints from residents that the introduction of parking charges would cause chaos elsewhere in the gorge.

But all three applications from Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust were recommended for approval by council planning officers with the condition that the museums enter into section 106 agreements.

This means museum bosses must lodge up to £6,750 with the council for each planning application in case the car park plans create extra road maintenance work for highways chiefs later on. The money will be returned to the museums with interest after five years if it is not needed.

Car parking charges for the new machines have yet to be decided on.