Protest over Market Drayton plan to raise car parking fees

About 50 residents turned out to voice their anger at controversial plans to increase and expand the car parking charges in Market Drayton.

Residents packed into the town's Festival Drayton Centre to have their say on Shropshire Council's proposals to raise existing charges and introduce new ones across the town.

Market Drayton is the only town in the former district council area to have off-street charges.

Madeline Grainger, of Temptation's Jewellers in Queen Street, said: "Market Drayton has paid heavily over the last five years when other towns haven't had the charges. We have done our bit and really we should be getting a rebate from Shirehall now.

"If parking was free again it would bring more people into town, but increasing charges will mean shops are going to go."

David Minnery, Shropshire Council member for Market Drayton West, told the meeting he was baffled at figures he had seen which suggested Shirehall's extra annual car parking revenue from the town after the shake-up would be just £20,000 more than the current £95,000 generated.

In Shropshire Council's draft parking strategy Market Drayton is earmarked for on-street charges and a raise in off-street charges.

Council documents also show Market Drayton could be earmarked for a park and ride scheme, talk of which was met with laughter by residents at the meeting.

Afterwards, members of Market Drayton Town Council community and governance committee unanimously voted on their official response to Shropshire Council's proposals.

Members decided to lobby Shirehall to keep the Towers Lawn car park free and to resist all on-street charges.