Shrewsbury shoppers attracted by cheaper parking, figures show

A month after the business group Shrewsbury BID and Shropshire Council launched the town's cheap parking promotion, firms say numbers have gone up.

The changes mean shoppers and visitors can park all day in any of the council's car parks but pay for just the first hour.

The deal runs until Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

Kevin Lockwood, manager of the Darwin and Pride Hill Shopping Centres, said numbers had increased when compared to the same period last year.

Mr Lockwood, who is also a leading member of the BID team, said: "We are already seeing the number of shoppers up by over 1,000 in the Pride Hill Centre on Sundays and that's a very significant figure at this time of the year.

"We are delighted with the pro-active response from the council and with the way they are working with us to regenerate the town centre.

"Shrewsbury is such an attractive town and an important shopping centre, and this just makes it more accessible and that has to be a good thing for businesses throughout the town centre."

Paul Howl, from card and gift shop Green Ginger in Pride Hill Shopping Centre, said: "Support for reduced Sunday parking prices has been fully welcomed by town centre retailers.

"Feedback has been extremely positive – everyone loves to have the extra pennies in their pockets and not in a ticket machine."

Discounted all day car parking will be available at the following car parks: Abbey Foregate, Raven Meadows Multi Storey, St Julian's Friars and Frankwell Main.