Drivers will not have to pay to park on streets in a Shropshire town, despite recent fears that they would be asked to stump up for the privilege, transport chiefs have said.

Shropshire councillor Martin Taylor-Smith, portfolio holder for transport and IT services, said a number of rumours had been flying around over the charges in Bridgnorth which had sparked protests from residents.

But he told a public meeting last night: “I can say categorically say there will be no parking charges on the street, no parking meters on the High Street or anywhere else.”

But changes are to be made to charges for car parks, Mr Taylor-Smith told the 60 people who attended a public meeting held over proposed changes to parking charges in the town.

He said: “We have looked at car parks and what is reasonable and sensible.

“The overriding principle is the further the car park is from the town centre the cheaper it is. What we are trying to do with encourage people to park further out of the centre.”

He said one of the biggest culprits for parking in the centre were people working there.

The proposed changes, which are under consultation, would include the charge for the Smithfield car park changing from up to £11 for up to 10 hours to £5.50 and the Innage Lane car park changing from up to £3.60 to £2 for the same period.

But the meeting heard parking charges were already driving visitors away from the town.

Stella Voysey, of Alveley, said she had spoken to people in Highley and Alveley and they were going to Kidderminster, which was the same distance away as Bridgnorth.

She said: “A lot of people have gone to banks and transferred their accounts elsewhere. They said they get the same service elsewhere and it is cheaper to park.”

Debbie Wellings, a health visitor, from Bridgnorth, said the parking charges were extortionate for local people trying to work in the community.

She was concerned about the rising cost the health workers would face having to park near Sainsbury’s for their work.

Other people raised the fact that the cost of parking permits for residents would rise from £50 for two to £50 each.

Alan Mason questioned why there were charges at the weekend on the council’s Westgate car park when it was hardly used and it was free during the week when it was full.