Call to publish Shrewsbury visitor numbers after parking fees hike
Tuesday 7th June 2011, 11:25AM BST.
Calls have been made for Shropshire Council to publicise figures on visitor numbers to Shrewsbury since car parking charges were hiked in the town.
Shrewsbury Town Council said the evidence was needed to see how the increased costs had affected trade, following concerns from business owners.
The unitary pushed its prices up in April, with the increases including upping the cost of parking on Sundays from £2.50 for a whole day to £3.10 for two hours.
A meeting of the town council’s finance and general purposes committee agreed the unitary authority should be asked to produce evidence on what the extra price of car parking had done to visitor numbers in the town.
It also wants the authority to look into what effect the removal of park and ride concessionary fares has had.
Councillor Peter Nutting said: “It appears to me that car parks are quieter than they were.”
Councillor Miles Kenny said it was important not to talk down the town centre after Councillor Jon Tandy spoke about the number of empty shops in the area.
Councillor Peter Adams said he was concerned about where the money being raised by car parking charges was being spent.
Shrewsbury Business Chamber has warned the current car parking charge levels could do “irreparable damage” to retailers.
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I’m sure the Unitary council will come up with some lies, sorry, “statistics”, to prove that the increased parking charges, increased Park & Ride fares and banning concessionary passes is actually good for business. As an ex-shopper as far as Shrewsbury is concerned, my message is can’t pay, won’t pay and I’m staying away.
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How can they justify the price if Park & Ride doesn’t even run on a Sunday?
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another nail in the coffin for town traders, it must be very annoying paying your rates to the very people who are crippling your business, the very people who get £1000′s in expenses every year.
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Well done to the council for driving more nails in the coffin that is Shrewsbury Town Centre. £3.10 for two hours on a Sunday is a joke, the £2.50 for ‘all day’ was bad enough. It really will encourage people to travel to Telford and Chester to do their shopping.
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The Raven Meadows multi story car park was half empty at midday last Saturday. No more proof neede.
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Unitary is an adjective, not a noun.
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May be they are looking out for the environment and our carbon footprint or just typical stupid council…….
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