Shropshire Star

Ludlow parking row: Night-time crackdown must continue, say council bosses

Night-time parking enforcement in Ludlow town centre must continue according to council bosses – despite calls for a change of strategy.

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Councillor Mal Price of Shropshire Council said the crackdown on parking in Ludlow's central square was working to address complaints over "illegal and indiscriminate parking in the town".

He said previous attempts to resolve the problems had not worked.

It comes after the town's three Shropshire councillors Vivienne Parry, Andy Boddington and Tracey Huffer called for parking enforcement after 6pm to be suspended in the wake of fines being handed out to more than 100 drivers in recent weeks.

They said parking restrictions are not clear in and around the central Market Square – and claimed the recent stricter enforcement could put off visitors.

Councillor Price, the authority's cabinet member with responsibility for parking regulation, said: "We believe that it is important to continue with this approach.

"Shropshire Council's aim is to prevent indiscriminate parking that poses a threat to public safety.

"Since early 2015, Shropshire Council has received complaints expressing concerns about irresponsible parking in Ludlow.

"Unfortunately this low-level enforcement approach failed to improve evening compliance with the town's parking restrictions and as a result, since July, penalty charge notices have been issued to drivers parking in breach of the rules."

He said there had been a 40 per cent fall in tickets that needed to be issued from July to August which demonstrated the approach "is working".

He said the authority would continue to work with the councillors in Ludlow, as well as Ludlow Town Council, and will repaint double yellow lines in and around restricted areas in Ludlow.

He added any motorist who felt they had been caught out by the condition of the lines was welcome to challenge the ticket.

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