Call for ‘common sense’ over parking fines for Oswestry businesses

The chamber's move comes after Oswestry businessman Tom Brown claimed parking fines are damaging efforts to keep the town's retail centre alive.

The butcher and health food entrepreneur said he was left angered after his drivers were given a second parking ticket in recent months.

The latest £70 fine came when his Meat Man van parked in a loading bay outside his Heat Health Food Bar to pick up recycling.

Mr Brown said: “The van was in the loading area sticking out slightly, but the time on the ticket shows we had not even been a minute unloading and loading things.

“It is absolutely ridiculous. Local people are setting up local business, giving jobs to local people and just trying to make the town a better place overall.

“It seems businesses trying to keep the town alive are getting clobbered because we are an easy target."

Outcry

Last year Jason Edwards, of AC Edwards fruit and veg, was given a parking fine, prompting an outcry from local businesses.

After the latest incident, chair of the chamber of commerce Mark Derham said the group would contact Shropshire Council to see if any middle ground could be found.

He said: "It is disappointing to hear about the latest incident.

"I know there has been a problem and a few people have been hit in recent months.

"I think this is a big problem. We have done a lot to promote businesses recently, and we don't want this to knock business back.

"I think there is a need for just common sense to prevail.

"There have been no confrontations with the wardens, they are just enforcing the rules.

"And there can't be one rule for one and one for another.

"But delivery drivers are not shopping, they are dropping off deliveries.

"It would do no harm for us to contact Shropshire Council to see if we can possibly find some sort of solution."