Motorists in Wem are being prevented from buying a second annual parking permit for their household – as it might upset residents in Bridgnorth, it was claimed today.

Eligible residents who parked for free on Wem’s main car park until April, when controversial new charges were introduced, were offered an olive branch by Shropshire Council in the shape of discounted parking permits.

But households with more than one car have now been told they can only have one permit at the reduced rate of £50 because a similar scheme in Bridgnorth limits eligible households to one permit.

It means Wem residents in need of a second permit will instead have to fork out £270 for a full price parking season ticket.

Residents today said the move contradicted a Shropshire Parking Strategy report to councillors in January, which said residents of properties will be entitled to purchase two residents parking permits at £50.

One resident, Nancy Phillips, of Leek Street, which overlooks the main car park, said the situation was frustrating.

Councillor Pauline Dee, Shropshire councillor for Wem, said: “Mrs Phillips went to renew her permits for the two cars she and her husband use.

“There is no on-street parking in Leek Street so she paid her money at Edinburgh House and was then sent a refund and informed that they were only entitled to one car parking permit as ‘Bridgnorth was unable to offer two parking spaces per car because of their limited parking area’.”

Mrs Phillips said: “Wem’s main car park has about 250 spaces, most of which are now empty since the charges started.

“The council let me buy two £50 permits then refunded one telling me we could only get one because that was the rule in Bridgnorth. Well I don’t live in Bridgnorth, I live in Wem. It’s mad.

“I’m now being forced to drive to work, which is a few minutes away on foot, just to let my husband stay on the car park all day when he needs to.”

The permits in Wem were made available to residents living in selected addresses to enable them to continue using the main car park once the new parking charges took effect.

Simon Alton, Shropshire Council spokesman, said: “Each household can apply for one permit but each can have two vehicles registered to it. We apologise for any misunderstanding.”

By Tom Johannsen