Ludlow market traders hit by quadrupled parking fee

Zoe Mortimer, engineering and contracts manager at Shropshire Council, defended the authority's decision to quadruple all-day parking charges for market traders in Dinham and Mill Street to £4. She said she hoped the move would boost trade for the market by making more spaces available.

Stallholders – who used to be able to park for £1 a day just around the corner from the market – are up in arms about the trial move.

The new policy has restricted the number of on-street spaces traders can use to just a handful and raised the price to park in them or on one of 20 set-aside spaces in the Castle Square car park.

It means many have no option but to use the free Linney car park, a 15 minute walk away. Traders say they are worried about losing trade and falling victim to thieves while they park their vehicles after setting out their stalls.

Two have already quit the 900-year-old market since the regulations came into force at the start of the month, with warnings more could follow.

The council has denied the move was prompted by residents complaining about vans being parked outside their homes all day.

Ms Mortimer said: "Shropshire Council is running a nine-month trial on a change to Ludlow market trader parking permits and the parking concessions.

"The council needs to consider the limited on-street spaces and limited prime short stay spaces within Ludlow town centre which are much in demand by visitors and local people.

"By increasing the availability of spaces, the aim is to benefit market traders in general by encouraging more people to visit and spend money at the market and in the town centre.

"The previous scheme permitted a concession using a visitor scratch card which was a temporary concession and this was sold at £1 to market traders. The rates before Shropshire Council was formed in 2009 were previously understood to be £3, so the temporary measure had been offering a very good concession for market traders."