Pubs, restaurants and shops in a south Shropshire town are being urged to shut up shop for an entire weekend in a protest over parking.

Businesswoman Jennifer Leyton-Purrier, who runs a hairdressing salon in Ludlow’s Corve Street, wants to get all businesses in the town involved in a mass shut down over the busy August Bank Holiday weekend – August 28 to 30.

It comes after businesses called for extra parking to be provided in the town centre to help boost trade.

They say a lack of spaces, increased charges for parking and over-enthusiastic wardens are putting people off coming into the town.

She said: “I think it would be the best thing the town could do, we’ve been having this conversation for some time about the lack of parking, the prices, the overzealousness of traffic wardens. People can’t get into town and businesses have really suffered because of it.”

“Everybody has been saying the same thing, customers are complaining, the prices are too much.”

Mrs Leyton-Purrier said residents with parking permits for the town centre also took up valuable spaces.

She said: “They are entitled to park outside their houses, but it’s just one more pressure.”

She said she had raised the matter with members of Shropshire Council but nothing was being done about the situation.

She said: “They should have it free-flow like it was before, or they should have a no-charge day.”

In protest over the situation, Mrs Leyton-Purrier is calling on shops, pubs and restaurants to close during a busy time such as the August Bank Holiday.

She said: “The point of it is to give them a hard message. I think the only way they would listen is if you had a protest shut up.”

Andy Goldsmith, assistant director for public protection at the council, said: “The council has continued with the policies of South Shropshire District Council with regard to parking charges. Parking charges were increased in April this year, pending a complete review of these charges.

“Consultation will take place on this in the summer.

“We encourage visitors to use the park and ride site that operates from the eco business park and drops passengers right in the centre of town, with a return journey costing 70p.”