Former Newport mayor: I got it wrong on parking

A former mayor of a Shropshire market town today said she now believed she was wrong when she successfully fought to remove car parking charges.

Brenda Flowers said parking enforcement was now needed in Newport because the present system of no charges in New Street, Stafford Street and Water Lane was being abused by shoppers and workers.

She said it was now 'impossible' for people to park in the town. Mrs Flowers was both a town and borough councillor when the charges in Newport were removed back in 2005.

She said: "I was one of the people who fought very hard to have parking charges removed from Newport but the present system is being abused and it is becoming impossible for people to park here."

"I see now that I was wrong. It has become so difficult to park in Newport because the spaces are taken up by those that work in the town and by students.

"Even very early in the morning one has to circulate the car parks several times to get a space.

"Now I find that I'm having to move to a supermarket car park. If there was a weekly charge or even a monthly or annual charge for all-day parking and an equally moderate charge for up to four hours for the rest of us, then perhaps we would all have the chance to shop in this town."

But the idea was dismissed by Pat Beech, chairman of Newport's Chamber of Commerce, who raised fears for the impact charges could have for business in the town.

He said: "We fought very hard six years ago to have no car parking charges. If they were to be introduced now there would be nothing but uproar because they would kill the high street.

"Newport is doing very well. We only have three empty shops and you only have to look at Market Drayton to see how parking charges can affect a town.

"The high street there is almost completely empty. If charges were introduced people would drive through our town and go on to Telford. I don't think we have a problem at all."