Oswestry short-stay car park charges could be cut to entice shoppers

Those popping into town for a few items could soon be able to park in Central car park for up to an hour for just 50p. Currently the charge is 60p for an hour.

Councillors meet tomorrow to decide whether to make the change.

Although there is also a move to increase the charge from parking between one and two hours from 80p to £1, the mayor of Oswestry, Councillor Chris Schofield, said that the 50p for an hour proposal was a way of bringing more shoppers into Oswestry.

"Things are looking good in the town at the moment," he said.

"We have new shops opening and the market is doing well. We just need to see Cross Street given a facelift and then we can be really proud of what Oswestry has to offer. I hope that by dropping the car park charge for the hour in Central car park shoppers will be drawn into town to use our shops."

The town council currently runs three car parks in Oswestry – Central car park, the Horsemarket and the Smithfield Street car park.

All other charges will remain unchanged for the coming year.

Oswestry Town Council also had a free Sunday parking policy to woo people into the town to shop or to visit the town park or have a meal or a drink.

Other car parks in the town, run by Shropshire Council, still charge on Sundays.

The owner of Petworld in Oswestry, Mr Ken Malcolm, said anything to encourage shoppers to the town had to be applauded.

"It is getting more and more difficult for shop owners to keep businesses open so a move like this, even though it is only 10p reduction, must be welcomed," he said.

However, Mr Malcolm said that Shropshire Council's policy of the first 15 minutes free on the Festival Square car park was a better draw.

"People can park and nip in and pick something up," he said.

He and a small group of other traders in Oswestry run a scheme where they will refund the current one hour 60p charge if their customers spend £15 or more in their store.

"This seems to have been really successful," Mr Malcolm said.

"I am certainly giving away lots of 60ps. Shoppers like to think that they are getting something back."

In north Shropshire, Shropshire Council brought in charges to car parks in the market towns in 2011. The cost of parking for one hour is free with two hours 10p and over two hours, £1.80. In Telford town centre prices range from 50p to £3.

Oswestry Town Council will meet at the Guildhall at 7pm tomorrow to discuss the charges.