Listen to views of residents

I agree with G Evans, St Georges. To impose car park charges in Oakengates would kill the town dead.

Oakengates has never recovered from the building of the Town Centre in Telford and is crying out for investment to revitalise it.

The pedestrianisation of upper Market Street is certainly not the answer. This will only benefit the licensing trade, and the "night economy" is causing so many problems that a public meeting has been called to discuss them. It's the "daytime economy" that needs investment.

Oakengates is no longer a market town, but a place where people call in to shop.

Therefore we must encourage motorists who just pop into Oakengates to do a bit of shopping and at the same time cater for the long-term and resident shoppers.

This can be achieved by chevron parking in Market Street for the short stay shopper, but a greater variety of shops is required.

I urge councillors to listen to the people who voted them into office. They will tell you what is wrong with Oakengates and what is required to make it a better place to shop.

After all, they live in Oakengates and know the area.

John Trafford, Oakengates