Call to axe Much Wenlock parking charges

Traders in Much Wenlock today called for parking charges to be scrapped after partly blaming them for a drop in visitors to the town.

Janice Odum, chairman of Much Wenlock Chamber of Trade, said the town was suffering because of the charges and fuel prices.

And she said while there was charging for parking in Much Wenlock every day other nearby towns, such as Broseley, had no charges at all or no charges on a Sunday.

Mrs Odum, who runs the Priory Tearooms, said: "We are keen to encourage people to come to Much Wenlock. There has been a drop in trade."

She said the chamber was planning to lobby Shropshire Council to find out why some of the towns had parking charges and why some did not and wanted Much Wenlock's charges scrapped.

Samantha Tharme, Shropshire Council's principal transport planner, said: "Shropshire Council's parking strategy for Shropshire has been designed to bring more consistency across the county, meaning that all towns above a certain size should have parking charges."

She said: In Much Wenlock we plan to increase parking charges by inflation only, therefore at St Mary's car park two hours will be increased by 10p to 90p, four hours by 10p to £1.60 and all day by 20p to £3.

"In New Road, we have reduced the rate for all day parking to £1.80, and only 10p for up to two hours, a reduction from 80p for two hours. This is in line with other towns where we are introducing a low tariff on more peripheral car parks. Back Lane remains one hour maximum stay at 50p."

She said: "We are bringing in seven-day charges in all towns as a result of reviewing car parks across Shropshire and aiming to bring in a more consistent approach across towns of a similar size/level of activity."