Rallying call to save Royal British Legion clubs
- Today's leader
Letter: Parking rules are killing Shrewsbury
Monday 28th June 2010, 9:00AM BST.
Letter: I have watched with dismay our beautiful thriving Shrewsbury slowly slip into a town of charity shops, coffee shops and very little else.
Would you not think with our country in the middle of a depression that our council would be helping to make our town as vibrant, accessible and welcoming as possible?
I see shops shutting all around us and over the last few months I have witnessed on Sunday mornings innocent visitors who have parked on a “no yellow” lined street outside the old post office. Each and every one of them receives a ticket.
Or at 7.30pm, tickets being randomly handed out over parking misdemeanours!
I was in a shop on Mardol the other day and listened to a woman frantically asking for her package that she was picking up and said “they won’t give me a minute and are scowling at me, why do they need to be so unfriendly?”
Surely common sense must prevail?
How are businesses to survive if customers cannot pull up and pick up /drop off items with the fear of being given a ticket ?
How are we to survive if the first and last image we give our visitors is an unwelcoming one?
Our council needs to be accountable for this and the damage that these traffic wardens are doing .
Can we not look at parking lots with free parking at certain times?
We may have the competition of retail parks and superstores on the outskirts of our town, which is bad enough, but what we do have is independent, bespoke shops and galleries with creativity and flair, fringe cinema and a beautiful theatre, lovely restaurants and bars that they cannot compete with.
So help us please.
We need all the help we can get.
Ann DiTella
Shrewsbury
Sponsored Links
UK News
Most Commented
- Shropshire Council will face £8m redundancy bill
- Clampdown on Shrewsbury chuggers
- Bishop's gay marriage views do nothing to support bible teachings
- Letter: Alcohol price plans annoy me
- Letter: No sense in overseas job adverts
- Letter: Angered by close encounter of the furred kind
- The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff doesn't raise a smile
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
The policy of Shropshire council is to
use parking charges and penalties as a means to collect taxes by stealth.
It is economic fascism and I absolutely refuse to pay any of my penalty tickets for political reasons.
The wardens are now called
‘Civil enforcement officers’.
This is because the council want to expand their true role as stealth tax collectors, by issuing tickets for a variety of petty actions.
If everyone took my stand then it wouldn’t be long before we had free parking in Shrewsbury.
Report abuse
do you per chance take the Daily Mail ??
Report abuse
No doubtyou read the SUN and belive it
Report abuse
Or maybe you’d just be taken to court to have your fines collected, and then inccur the costs of the courts too. maybe thats what the evil county council wants you to do, so they can get more money out of you.
Report abuse
We do have a problem here. I used to drop off items for the charity shops. I would pop to one, the wife would pop to the other. One day a parking warden came to me and said ‘This is loading bay etc’. I said, yes, that is what we are doing. His reply was, “Surely you could park else where and walk the items to the shop?” I replied, NO we WILL NOT. We have only been here for under 10 minutes. His reply? “GO and pay like everyone else” To which I replied, Tell me what you class as loading or dropping off? He couldn’t other than say, “If it is a carrier bag”. I replied, no it is not, it is at least 6 bin bag full or heavy items so what do you call heavy he did not have an answer.
Result of all this we do not take items to the charity shops any more but suggest that the parking warden donate part of their salary.
Report abuse
Agree with Ms Di Tella…revenue trawlers and civic stranglers in the pay of the big supermarkets.
Report abuse
I rarely go into town for this reason, I often have errands which will take no more than 10-15 mins, but I do not want to have to pay to park and then if I do I am therefore limited as to how much time I can spend maybe browsing the shops and spending money in them after I have done my errands. I am lucky in that I am fit enough to walk in from a free parking area, but many people are not and it will kill the town if we can’t park. The post office is a particular case in point, as they are closing off all the outlying ones. It should be free to park for 30 or 45 mins on the streets near to the town centre, as it is in places like Bridgnorth.
Report abuse
the park and rides help bring shoppers in to shrewsbury. there are still many bespoke shops and antique gallieries in the town. the market hall needs more use by stall holders who should be encouraged by the markets committee. the worst thing about the town are the darwin and pride hill shopping centres. ugh!!
Report abuse
There usually seem to be places in the car parks. I walk into town and a friend takes the park and ride. But I have seen a car illegally parked near the old post office that was preventing a bus making that very sharp turn from Castle St into Mary’s street.
Most of the motorists who complain are probably too lazy to walk a bit or are too dim to park sensibly. The reason why the town has problems is to do with the economic situation (and the new government has the deliberate policy of making it worse), not a few parking restrictions.
Let’s make the town centre a car-free zone (apart from the disabled), stop that dreadful roar, and make the centre a place where it is a pleasure to shop.
Report abuse
Parking in Shrewsbury costs so much more than anywhere else. The wardens add to this by being at the ready to slap a ticket on your car for any reason they can find. I know we should all be using park and ride but with a baby and toddler it’s just not that easy.
Report abuse
” slap a ticket on your car for any reason they can find “, what you mean just because your parked illegally. The cheek of it.
Report abuse
I had a warden get very angry with me for pulling up to pick a friend up. I complained and was given an apology. I agree it has to be a ticket for parking up or for leaving your car to long in the carpark. But a little commonsense is needed, dropping off or picking up people should be allowed and hassle free from over the top wardens.
Report abuse
My husband works at the post office and when i drop him off outside these “park sharks” are there ready and waiting to ask me to move on even as he is getting out of the car. power tripping!!!
Report abuse
Oh no, moaning about car parking charges is fast becoming a weekly sport on the Shropshire Star. I’m glad you haven’t got real problems to worry about.
It’s much cheaper for me to park my car in town than to travel in by bus. I don’t begrudge paying a little towards the upkeep of the car park. Maintenance bills don’t pay themselves, and it is better if those who use them contribute directly rather than an increase in council tax for every one.
Car parking charges are a direct cost of running a vehicle. Get over it. If you’re too tight to pay then walk!
Report abuse
In response, I think you will find that the majority of people are ‘moaning’ about having to pay sometmes alot more than £2 to leave their cars for a matter of minutes. I’m sure if these people were spending a few hours in town, then the parking charges would not be such an issue and people wouldn’t mind paying. There should be more discretion practiced by the ‘power tripping’ wardens. I’m not saying that they should let everyone off as I am aware that the money from the fines supposedly contributes to town maintenance, but come on, having a go at you for taking ten minutes to drop off charity bags or drop your husband at work… They need to get a grip! And you’re snide comment about ‘real problems..’ money is a real problem to almost everyone, even if it is only £2!! The ridiculous fines imposed on you and possible court fees just because you ran five minutes over your ticket are a massive problem. Fantastic if you can afford to park your car in town, you must be one of the lucky ones, but alot of people who live too far out to walk and have to use a car as the bus service is often unreliable (there are also no trains in some towns) do not find it so affordable.
Report abuse
the pARK AND RIDE is excellent, cheaper and greener alternative works well for all but the laziest people who really cant be bothered to ditch their car and will moan at any chance about charges even though they help keep the cost of you council tax down by HUNDREDS of pounds every year
so all those moaners are bascially saying i should fund their parking and my council tax should go up along with everyone elses, or would you increase business rates instead ? that would kill shrewbsury
Report abuse
Ian it is nothing to do with being lazy it is what you are going to shrewsbury for? window shopping? or spending? as well as that I think most do not want to sit by strangers on a bus be it the fat, smelly, lousy, or what ever you get on public transport.
Report abuse
I am so grateful that you do not use Public Transport.
I really have no wish to sit next to such an ignorant bigot.
Report abuse
I find your comment very rude and offensive,totally agree with Rupert Barrington-Black.
Report abuse
On reflection my comment above may have been a little harsh. I am being influenced by the tory guv already the shame of it.I have nothing against the fat, smelly ,or lousy,they are all gods creatures :)
Report abuse
When will these moaners stop complaining about being given a “parking ticket”? The solution is very simple: ABIDE BY THE LAW!
Shropshire Council has instigated these parking restrictions for very good reasons and they have the legal obligation to enforce them. It’s a pity that similar enforcement has ceased in the Wards, (particularly Belle Vue) since Peter Nutting’s politically motivated devastation of Parkrite (as was).
Report abuse
Mr Davies, true what you say, but the problem with the traffic wardens is the ‘waiting to leap’element. You or I would see it was obvious that someone (kind enough to do so) is dropping off a stack of clothes/books at a chrity shop, or purchasing a chest of drawers from a small business and would use our discretion, not give them a wopping fine knowing damn well they are not going to park there all day!
Hey ho, so long town shops…….
Report abuse
Get something sorted in Madeley please, the new High Street has already turned into a nightmare. There are two big carparks either side of the High Street but the big, fat, useless, jogging bottom wearing scroungers park in the road outside the Post Office ( obviously cashing giro’s )because they’re too lazy to use the carparks.
Some double yellows and a bit of parkright would soon have them lot screaming foul
Report abuse
That may seem a bit harsh but i did spend five minutes yeaterday trying to get down 200 yds of road because people were parked in it.
Report abuse
Absolutely not, twisting my melon, leave well alone.
I agree with your comments about the people who park there and their reasons for so doing, (you forgot to mention the screaming kids in prams and eBay sellers on a Monday), but if they were to be stopped from parking there, the road would become clear and people would do as they do up the High Street – race along without a care for any pedestrians.
No, I say, leave them parked up and cashing the giros in their joggers – it slows traffic down to a civilised and safe speed.
Slightly away from your point: does actually use Madeley post office to buy stamps?
Report abuse
Couldn’t the powers that be, do their bit for getting back to work by employing a few of said people as speed bumps..
Report abuse
I thought they abolished giros etc for the unemployed years ago.
Report abuse
Nice idea, TWM, but there are strict rules on how large a speed bump can be – I fear that most of said claimants would not meet those strict criteria. Using them in the road would not slow traffic down, it would completely obstruct it, thereby making your progress along that stretch of road even more difficult.
Andrew, yes, I believe that they did but, unfortunately, the amount of money thrown at them was not abolished. It’s put straight into an account, so the problem still remains that to access the handout, they still have to go to the post office and use their special card.
As a consequence, it can be a real effort to buy a stamp at any time later than 10.30, although there’s a lull between 11.59 and 12.30, which seems to be the best time to use Madeley post office, but the corollary is that the pie queue at Greggs over the road becomes horrendous in that half hour.
Report abuse
” i thought they abolished giros’ for the unemployed years ago ”
Wrong again Finchy!!
Report abuse
Are you talking about the traffic wardens?
Report abuse
Another Method our dear government uses to line their already bulging pockets.
Captain P
Report abuse
I am sure Cam and co will “cut” the charge… then again maybe not. Its a Tory tax, passed by a tory council, where is Daniel Kawczynski why is he not asking the questions rather than harping on about some Display in Tesco?
Report abuse
2.5 years ago, a traffic warden was VERY rude to me when i tried to get out of my hubby’s car being 2 weeks off having my baby, it took me a bit well actually a shove to get out of the car ! When i said i was only being dropped off as i could not walk through town ( pointing at bump ) he said he couldn’t give a dam if i was pregnant or not and to move the f***ing car !
I saw the same personthe other day. I then carried on walking up the pride hill, pushing my daughter ! He upset me that much, i went into labour the same night.
Report abuse
I’ve never quite understood what these car-parking charges are for. Do they look after my car and make sure no one nicks it ? Oh no that’s not their responsibility.
The council may be making money from this but at what cost to local businesses? It is all very well, as some have posted to say, “If you don’t like it don’t park here etc…” The problem is, people don’t like it and do go elsewhere. This is money lost by local traders. So perhaps before anyone needs to get on their high horse, ensure you are in a position to be able to comment, rather than rant. The economic impact on the town is often missed, unless you have a business there.
I often think about going to Shrewsbury to grab a bite to eat or shop. Then I remind myself I have to pay for the privilege and generally not bother and go somewhere more local and free to part in. Which is a pity as Shrewsbury is a lovely town.
Report abuse
Parking charges and traffic wardens are killing trade in Shrewsbury town centre. Day by day shops are becoming empty as retailers go out of business. It’s about time SCC wake up to the problem before it’s too late and people start shopping out of town where parking is free. We need cheaper day time parking and free parking at weekends.
Report abuse
its not the traffic wardens killing the town its the fact that the shop rates have increase so much that businesses cant afford to keep open!
There are not many places u go to these days where parking is free! I think Shrewsbury is a lovely town and is always really busy. I actually spoke to a traffic warden the other day who was so helpful in giving me directions i was so impressed by this lady warden at how friendly and professional she was.
Keep up the good work traffic wardens cos if u werent around nobody would be able to park anywhere!
Report abuse
well said sarah,i have a disable mother and some times not share were i can park when i take her out,i have spoken to afew of the wardens and have always found them very helpful.i think they have a hard job,keep up good work wardens my mother and i appreciate the job you all do.
Report abuse
learn to read the sighn it is not difficult , well thats what they say to people who get a ticket I assume?
Report abuse
Don’t worry folks, it will come to a head sometime soon.
As soon as public-”servants” see that they’re at risk of being booted out of their jobs, they’ll become civil and professional overnight; the power will be back on the boot of the public.
And as soon as the council understand that businesses cannot keep on losing business and paying business rates, they’ll have to take notice as any shortfall won’t be made up by the government any more. I notice that Shropshire Star mentions that Welshpool are thinking of offering free 1st hour parking for exactly this reason AND to decriminalize otherwise innocent motorists.
Another way of raising a load of money, in Telford and Wrekin at least, (probably Shrewsbury as well), would at be to charge council employees to park in the council car park whilst they are at work. Private sector employees have to fork out to park in town every day in order to go to work, so why not the council workers?
All very well for councils to work-tax private sector employees with parking charges, time to apply the tax to all workers. After all, we’re in his together, aren’t we?
Report abuse
It is a sad situation. Many a time I have longed to buy large items from the antiques market, recently a nest of tables and a coffe table. How on earth am I supposed to load that into the car without stopping directly outside? Even with hubby circling the loop, I can’t carry stuff up the stairs on my owwn and then wait on the street. The ‘enforcers’ seem to always be lurking around there waiting for their moment of glory,ready to pounce!
Does anyone know, if these people are salaried, or is it on commission??? Hmmmmmmm…..
Report abuse
It’s only 40p fpr 2 hours in Oswestry, free in Ellesmere.
Report abuse
yes it is free in ellesmere.I took my mother to the doctors there and she asked me to do some shopping for her,after driving around for 10 mins trying to find some where to park i gave up,(the town didnt even seem bis with shoppers?.I picket her up and went else were.least when you pay you can get a space.This was before Tesco.
Report abuse
it’s free in newport the only problem is tuesdays when the auction is on and cars and vans are parked all over the place, filling the disabled bays with vans can we have one of the wardens here please
Report abuse
I took mother out for sunday lunch 3 wks ago and we watch one of the lady wardens in shrewsbury give a ticket to a car parked in the disable bay who didnt have a blue badge as she finished a man started shouting and swearing at her from the other side of the road and carried on doing so until he got to his car.she explained politely he was parked in the disable bay,he shouted at her but its sunday.this upset my mother and myself so i voiced my views to him saying,are you saying that blue badge people dont want to go shopping or sunday lunch on sundays,he just got in his car and drove off.HOW RUDE.
Report abuse
It would be very interesting to hear what SCC hav to say on thi matter and what, if any, is their directive to traffic wardens regarding “dropping off”?
Surely, there should be discretion if one is picking up a heavy parcel or dropping off large item(s) for a charity shop?
Whatever happened to common-sense, is it any wonder some of these wardens wonder why they get abuse!
Report abuse
Notwithstanding the parking issue, I can only agree with the letter writer. Over the last few years, Shrewsbury town centre does seem to become over-run with charity shops and coffee parlours.
Very different to when I first moved there 22 years ago.
And not necessarily for the better IMHO.
Report abuse
Try making a delivery in Shrewsbury town centre. I have to do so on Wednesdays and Fridays and struggle each week to find a “loading bay” that’s not got cars “parked” in it, with little sign of anyone actually loading. The one on Princess St, nearest my delivery, is the worst, hence myself and other van drivers have to park outside the old market hall. Without fail, there’s always at least one car parked inconsiderately on Market St (by Loch Fyne), where there are no yellow lines, which forces me to drive on the pavement. I had a similar problem in Wolverhampton recently, where I needed to unload in the loading bay by an address, only to find it occupied by a bloke in his blinged-up Escort, listening to some tunes. A very helpful warden, spotted me waiting for the solitary space and moved him on so I could get on with my business. I’ve never had a bad experience with wardens in Shrewsbury, but then I’m using the “loading bays” for the purpose they’re intended for. I was told by one Parkright warden that “loading” equates to having a door open and actually loading to or from your vehicle, not waiting for your other half. As for the Madeley “regenerated area”, it won’t be long before there’s a serious accident, what with the regular illegal parking and people using the new road as a high speed short cut.
Report abuse