Plan to extend free parking scheme
Monday 1st December 2008, 11:15AM GMT.
Free parking at Shrewsbury’s car parks could be extended until March next year.
Since September parking has been free every Wednesday until 8pm after Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council scrapped charges at its Abbey Foregate, Frankwell and St Julian Friars car parks in the run-up to Christmas.
The move has already meant the authority sacrificing a loss of income to the tune of about £37,000.
At a meeting tonight, Campbell Thomson, SABC’s head of finance, will recommend that councillors back moves to extend the scheme until March 25, 2009.
Simon Airey, chairman of Shrewsbury Business Chamber, said he believed the scrapping of charges on a Wednesday would aid late-night shopping and pubs and restaurants, but called for the scheme to run from earlier in the day rather than start at 2pm.
He said: “Obviously it’s going to be a boost, but after Christmas retailers don’t open late on a Wednesday so it will mainly be for the night-time economy.
“What would be even better is if it was all day because it would be a bigger boost to shopkeepers because people would be able to come in at any time of day.
“On a few of the Wednesdays I have been in, it has been very busy despite the economic situation we’re in.”
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
