PARKING CHARGES at council-owned car parks in Shrewsbury town centre could be scrapped in the evenings, it was revealed today.

Council chiefs are considering the move, which would see free parking at car parks from 6pm. At present people have to fork out to pay until 8pm or 8.30pm depending on which car park they use.

It is hoped the move would allow more people to attend the theatre and enjoy a night out in the town without having to pay to park.

The proposal for free evening parking is one of a number currently being considered by Shropshire Council, which is reviewing parking fees county-wide.

Councillor Martin Taylor-Smith, cabinet member for transport, said: “The funding principle is that the closer you are to the town centre the more expensive the charge.

“But we had the ludicrous situation in Shrewsbury where the cost of the Park & Ride, which is one of the key things we run to keep vehicles out of the town centre, was actually more expensive than some of the car parks inside.”

Mr Taylor-Smith said the council had introduced new charges in January for all services but claimed they had noticed great disparity in charges between different towns when carrying out a review. He said the authority was now proposing a raft of changes to make parking charges fairer.

“The revenue we get from car parking is £4.5 million a year which is used to pay for general services,” he said.

“As a principle it is unfair for one part of the county to be paying parking charges at night while others enjoy no charge.”

He said the proposal was to introduce free parking after 6pm.

Samantha Tharme, the unitary authority’s team leader for traffic and transport studies, said: “A report outlining proposals will be considered by cabinet on June 9. A full public consultation will be carried out later this year.”

Earlier this year businesses in Shrewsbury town centre struggling with the recession claimed they would be hit hard by new parking charges.

James Walton, the council’s assistant director for strategy and business support, said the proposal to increase charges was part of its wider budget review.

By Emma Kasprzak and Russell Roberts