Frustration at lack of council help for Shrewsbury

A businesswoman who launched a campaign to save Shrewsbury town centre last year has claimed little has been achieved by Shropshire Council in the past 12 months.

Ann DiTella, the owner of Shrewsbury’s Mad Jack’s restaurant and the Mytton and Mermaid Hotel in Atcham, said councillors had been ‘made to listen’ about the lack of footfall in Shrewsbury town centre and issues surrounding parking.

But she said a number of smaller firms were still being forced out of business – including her own Mad Jack’s delicatessen which closed in January.

Ms DiTella issued a rallying call to council chiefs, traders and tourism officers last May.

The businesswoman blamed out of town supermarket chains and high parking charges for driving trade away and urged council bosses to rethink its parking strategy.

But despite the talks, Ms DiTella said today that little had changed in the past 12 months.

She said: “The frustration of trying to achieve anything with parking was too great.

“Unfortunately in private business you have to act immediately or you don’t succeed and as time did not seem to be important to our council I felt nothing would change.”

Shropshire Councillor Mike Owen said the authority had launched a number of schemes to help boost traders.

See also:

• Shrewsbury businesses to discuss ‘trade killing’ parking fees
• Letter: Parking rules are killing Shrewsbury