About 100 residents turned out to voice their anger about controversial plans to introduce parking charges in a Wem.

Residents packed into the town’s Edinburgh House to hear proposals which would see off-street parking charges implemented in High Street, Leek Street and Mill Street.

The charges are among plans set out in a draft parking strategy, which was produced by Shropshire Council in July.

Daily Blog: Charges will kill Wem

Residents and councillors fear charges would be disastrous for the town and lead to people staying away, causing businesses to close.

Others claimed that the proposals would hit senior citizens in the town hard as they rely heavily on free car parking for functions and trips.

Nancy Wilson, a town councillor, said: “Shops in Wem are fighting to stay open as it is.

“The town is not just bleeding, it’s haemorrhaging, and things will get worse with parking charges.”

Town councillor Peggy Carson said: “You can’t compare Wem to other towns. We have no amenities and instead rely on our shops and friendly people. With parking charges people will stop coming.”

Mayor of Wem, Councillor Mandy Meakin, said: “Wem is a very rural area and a lot of people rely on their cars as there are very little bus services. These people will go elsewhere.”

Pauline Dee, Shropshire and town councillor, said: “Rural people are being penalised which will mean they will be put off coming into the town and look elsewhere like Tesco or Morrisons. This will hit business in the town hard.”

John Murray, town councillor and owner of the Treacle Mine sweet shop in High Street, said: “I employ staff who are going to have to pay £345 a year to park in the town.

“They have already said they are not going to do it. Parking charges will ruin the town.”

Councillor Martin Taylor- Smith, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for strategic planning and transport, warned people that car parking charges were compulsory, but residents could work with their town council on the best ways to implement them.

By James Pugh