Free Shrewsbury day parking trial urged
Friday 27th January 2012, 12:15PM GMT.
Shrewsbury should hold a trial to see what effect increased parking charges were having on shopping in and visitors to the town centre, a councillor said today.
Town council leader Peter Nutting said he would like to see all town centre car parks free one day a month, saying it would provide a better indication on hat impact increased charges have on businesses.
The call was made at Shropshire Tourism Association’s AGM at the Lion Hotel yesterday. He said: “I would like to see a trial where anyone visiting the car parks could do so for free one day a month, and then we could really assess what effect parking charges are having to people’s willingness to come into the town centre.
“We need to start having mature conversation, particularly about car parking charges and its effects.”
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Do a week without charges and publicise it in advance so people can decide whether they want to take advantage. Repeat that once a month and you’ll soon get a statistically accurate pattern. One day a month will tell you precisely nothing.
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Wouldn’t a £2.00 for Tuesday (all-day parking) or Free after 3pm system be a good idea?
I’d rather see a permanent offer than a trial for completely free parking.
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Also, the actual day chosen could also have a blurred effect on the stats – choosing a weekday which is notoriously low could create distorted results leaving loopholes for whoever wishes to benefit from them. I agree that parking may require a fee to support the upkeep but keep the charges reasonable and actually let the paying public see where the money is going too – Julians Car Park has only 50% lighting working which during this winter is very unsettling for a female on her own… create safe, affordable parking and people will be happy to enjoy Shrewsbury.
If the council are looking to mimic Chester, how about applying its strengths first not the weaknesses!!
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I didn’t realise St Julian Friars was on reduced lighting. That’s appalling. I think that area of town is pretty safe but that’s no comfort if you don’t actually feel safe. I don’t know who runs it – the council or the horticultural society, I assume.
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I thought the traders had already told him. Trade is down now parking charges are up.
Maybe letting people park free for one month would give a better indication of the effect the charges are having, one day wouldn’t really prove anything.
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I don’t begrudge parking fees but I do resent the privatised wardens who will give you an enormous bill if you don’t get back to your car quite in time. There is a nickname for them on the Cop ‘Blue devils and blood sucking vermin’(after a 19th c political pamphlet). When I lived in Cheshire I was never fined for leaving my car on the street for too long. Instead, the wardens would knock on my door and ask me what I was playing at!!!
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