Controversial off-street car parking charges will be introduced in all but one of north Shropshire’s market towns from Friday, officials confirmed today.

Whitchurch has won a stay of execution from the Shirehall, meaning only motorists in Wem, Market Drayton and Ellesmere will face the new charges from Friday.

It comes after town and unitary councillors in Whitchurch lobbied Shropshire Council to build them a new car park in Mill Street before the charges are introduced.

The Shirehall has agreed to suspend charges in Whitchurch until the new car park is up and running.

Only then would charges be introduced across the town’s car parks.

Councillor Martin Taylor-Smith, Shropshire Council cabinet member for transport and IT, said today: “Charges – including Sunday charges – are due to be introduced in Whitchurch to make the car parks consistent with others in the county. However, we have agreed with the town council not to start the charges until an additional car park is opened in Mill Street and on the understanding that this is imminent.”

Councillor Alan Chesters, Mayor of Whitchurch, welcomed the news, saying: “Shirehall have had their consultation but our charges are not being implemented until they open a new car park for us on Mill Street first. We’ve heard our charges will be suspended until it’s all settled.”

Currently Whitchurch has five car parks eligible for the charges. There are 162 spaces in the town.

Elsewhere, the new charges of 10p for up to two hours of parking are being introduced.

Councillor Taylor-Smith, added: “It has not been a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach — every town has been looked at individually.”

The new charges will apply all days from 8am to 6pm.

Towers Lawn in Market Drayton and Wem High Street and Leek Street car parks will offer one hour’s free parking then charge 10p for up to two hours and £1.80 for up to 10 hours.

But there will be no free parking at Wem’s Mill Street car park nor those in Ellesmere.

By Tom Johannsen