Traders' fears over parking fee rise
Businesses in Shrewsbury town centre already struggling with the recession and the aftermath of the town blast will be hit hard by new parking charges, it was claimed today. Businesses in Shrewsbury town centre already struggling with the recession and the aftermath of the town blast will be hit hard by new parking charges, it was claimed today. Shropshire Council's charges, which could rake in £400,000, are due to be come into force on April 1. But today John Hall, chairman of Shop in the Loop which represents town centre traders in Shrewsbury, said: "Given the problems in the town centre in the aftermath of the explosion this is not good timing at all and an increase in charges of between 10 and 20 per cent is very hard to justify in the current climate." Read more in today's Shropshire Star
Shropshire Council's charges, which could rake in £400,000, are due to be come into force on April 1.
But today John Hall, chairman of Shop in the Loop which represents town centre traders in Shrewsbury, said: "Given the problems in the town centre in the aftermath of the explosion this is not good timing at all and an increase in charges of between 10 and 20 per cent is very hard to justify in the current climate."
Many of the increases unveiled in the plans for short-stay parking will range from 10p to 20p with some all-day tariffs rising by 40p and 60p.
James Walton, the council's assistant director for strategy and business support, said the proposal to increase charges, both on-street and off-street, was considered as part of its wider budget review.
He said the review, which had been "extensively consulted" upon since October, included proposal to raise £412,000 from increased parking charges.