New owners to axe free parking

It follows a decision in March last year to scrap 30 minutes of free parking which provoked criticism.

As a result the town centre Asda store collected more than 10,000 signatures calling for cut prices and said it may pull out because of dropping customer numbers.

Now development companies Hark Group and Apollo Real Estate Advisors, which bought the centre for £442 million in June, have decided shoppers must pay across the board.

Town centre manager Ray Hoof today said: "After looking at the shopping centre as a whole the new owners have decided that parking charges should be brought into line with others.

"We will be introducing the charges although I understand they are less than others charge."

Mr Hoof said the decision would apply to all the town centre car parks and had been part of a review of the shopping centre by the owners.

They are also looking at bringing forward other proposals for development in the new year, he added.

Charges will apply on Thursdays, when they had stopped at 5.30pm, from September 13, and on Sundays from September 16.

Previous owners the Universities Superannuation Scheme scheme was criticised by Telford & Wrekin Council, many residents and councillors for getting rid of 30 minutes free parking throughout the week.

Today one customer said he would stop using the town centre.

Keith Ellery, from Priorslee, said: "I am absolutely appalled."