Trader says parking offers for Shrewsbury a short-term fix
Sepcial offers on parking in Shrewsbury will only provide a 'short-term' fix to the town centre's problems, worried traders said today.
Business owners in the town said a string of incentives – including discounted parking rates on Sundays and bus routes being reinstated – did not go far enough.
They want on-street parking charges on Sundays abolished in a bid to encourage more independent stores to open and a flat day rate brought in on car parks.
But other traders have backed the plans, claiming the ideas suggested would help Shrewsbury to thrive.
Shropshire Council has announced plans to try and boost trade in the town centre. The plans, which were backed at the authority's full council meeting on Thursday, include the reintroduction of Sunday bus services from June and half price Park and Ride tickets for bus pass holders from April 1.
The council will also run an eight-week 'Super Sundays' scheme between July 21 and September 8 which will offer all-day parking in the town centre for the price of an hour.
The measures were introduced following concerns from traders that new on-street Sunday charges, introduced in January, was driving trade out of the town centre. The new on-street Sunday charges are the same as the existing Monday to Saturday on-street charges.
Ashley Davies, the owner of Ashley's Wine Bar in Shoplatch, said: "This is just a short term measure – they should be looking at the bigger picture. They are doing this to keep people pacified. In my opinion Shrewsbury is a great tourism town but many of the independent shops don't open on a Sunday because it is not worth their while."
Mr Davies called for on-street Sunday parking charges to be abolished permanently and replaced with a flat-rate all day fee for car parks.
But Robert Boutflower, a sales director at Tanners Wine Merchants on Wyle Cop, welcomed the discounts.
He said: "We are really interested in making Shrewsbury a thriving centre and we support any initiative that increases the number of people coming into the town."
As part of the changes to Sunday parking charges, fees in Shropshire Council's off-street surface car parks in Ludlow and Shrewsbury are now half the weekday fees, and free to use on bank and public holidays.
Under the measures backed on Thursday, the council is also removing all charges in Frankwell Main, St Julian's Friars and Abbey Foregate Long Stay car parks on April 21 for the Shrewsbury Cartoon Festival and on June 30 for the new Shrewsbury Food Festival.
