Shrewsbury leisure centre parking offer will be axed
Discounted parking at one of Shropshire’s largest leisure centres will be scrapped from next week – meaning drivers will have to pay an extra £2 to park.
Discounted parking at one of Shropshire’s largest leisure centres will be scrapped from next week – meaning drivers will have to pay an extra £2 to park.
Visitors to the Quarry Swimming and Fitness Centre in Shrewsbury will have to pay a £2.20 flat rate for parking for up to two hours from June 29.
Currently centre users can get £2 refunded when they leave.
The new rates will represent an 800 per cent increase.
Officials at Shropshire Council have claimed the decision to axe discounted parking rates was taken in a bid to create a ‘harmonised approach’ to charging across the county.
They have insisted the move is not related to private firm Serco taking over the management of the Quarry centre and four other county leisure centres from July 1.
John Brownlie, a resident in Shrewsbury, said users had been notified of the change by notices pinned on the doors to the centre’s changing rooms.
Councillor Steve Charmley, Cabinet member with responsibilities for Active and Healthy Lifestyles, said: “As from June 29 the car park refunds currently received by Quarry Swimming and Fitness Centre customers will cease.
“For some time users of the 14 allocated spaces have received a refund if the reason for their stay has been to use the Shrewsbury town centre facility.
“Although we have worked closely with the transport and parking team to create the refund scheme we no longer feel it is sustainable.
“No other leisure centre in the county offers subsidised parking and although we appreciate that The Quarry lies in a relatively unique position we are trying to create a harmonised approach throughout Shropshire.”
He added:“The current disabled parking bay for blue badge holders will remain for use by users of the centre paying the appropriate fee.”
Comments for: "Shrewsbury leisure centre parking offer will be axed"
Roger
This is disgraceful. The whole point of the allocated parking and rebate was to give access to the facilities due to the difficulty of parking in the area and to keep the cost of keeping fit and learning to swim down. The decision on what do about the baths is thus decided. Build a new facility out of the town centre at somewhere like the Sports Village where the cost of parking is NIL.
What other leisure centre charges for parking? Where is the consistency?
Surely the charge and rebate scheme was there to prevent casual and long term users from using the car park reserved for the baths?
The true statement on this proposals is "ALL PARKING AT THE QUARRY SWIMMING AND FITNESS CENTRE HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN"
The graduate
This is the answer close the pool and fitness center down for goodness sake .
Build as stated out of town or do not bother and leave it to the private ones that are at the moment a little desperate when it comes to retaining punters and will accept all.
Mimosa
Shame they couldn't have co-ordinated this with the porthill bridge re-opening at the very least - we have weeks of no bridge, and no carpark. How do I take the kids swimming when they have to walk miles with their kit - and tired after their lessons to get back to the car.
Not everyone lives in Shrewsbury. This is our nearest pool and we live 7 miles away. No option other than to come by car.