Ludlow 'needs multi-storey car park'

Traders in a south Shropshire town today called for radical action to provide more parking in Ludlow after receiving complaints from their customers.

Businesses claim they are losing trade to other towns because shoppers struggling to find somewhere to park are going elsewhere.

And they suggested building a multi-storey or an underground car park as potential solutions to the problem.

Chris Turley, of the Silver Pear shop in Broad Street, said: "We need an underground car park like they have for towns in Europe. We daily get people complaining about the parking, there's just not enough parking for the number of people who come into Ludlow and want to park, that means we have lost trade to other towns."

Peter Cook, at Price's Bakers, said: "There's still a need for another car park in the town somewhere, whether it's a multi-storey in the town centre or something else. Behind the library would probably be the best spot.

"An underground car park would probably be even more expensive, but there's no harm in investigating."

Ian Ray, proprietor of Wall's butchers in Ludlow, said they received a lot of complaints from customers about parking charges.

He said: "I don't know that underground parking could be justified, but any more parking would be a benefit. The Galdeford car park, particularly at weekends, is chock-a-block."

Gareth Proffitt, for Shropshire Council, said: "Shropshire Council has no plans to build a new car park in Ludlow.

"However, we encourage visitors to Ludlow to use the Park & Ride site that operates from the Eco Business Park and drops passengers right in the centre of the town."