'Unpopular', 'damaging', 'frankly unacceptable' – BID continues battle over 'drastic' car parking hikes for Shrewsbury

The changes, which have been met with widespread upset from Shrewsbury's business community, will see the cost of parking in some of the town's most popular car parks jacked up by up to 67 per cent from Monday to Friday, and up to 180 per cent on Sundays.

The charges come into force from April 1, but Shrewsbury BID's board says the council is underestimating the potential impact of the changes, which will also see the maximum fee removed, and chargeable hours extended.

Season tickets, which have long been used by workers to save on parking costs, are also facing eye-watering hikes, with the price at Abbey Foregate nearly doubling from £480 to £800.

The BID has expressed dismay at the council's decision to press ahead with the move, saying it would be "unthinkable" for a business to put prices up by 67 per cent.

The letter states: "The Shrewsbury BID Board are deeply concerned at the decision taken at the Cabinet Meeting on 17th January 2024 to drastically increase car parking charges.

"This decision has sparked anger among the business community and raised serious concerns about potential lasting impacts on Shrewsbury’s town centre.

"While the Council has acknowledged the unpopularity of these proposals, there appears to be a significant underestimation of their potentially damaging economic and social consequences.

"As the county town, Shrewsbury, as well as being a vibrant economic service centre provides employment to thousands of people, it also serves as a vital communal space for a broad spectrum of the county’s population."

The BID has also highlighted the lack of consultation with the town's businesses, describing the move as "frankly unacceptable".

The BID previously said that it had only been given sight of the proposals the day before they were made public.

It said: "Over 750 Shrewsbury town centre businesses rely on Shropshire Council as a crucial partner to provide decent and affordable access options for their staff and customers, making the council an intrinsic part of every business’s business plan.

"Implementing such drastic changes without any business consultation or proper consideration of the economic ramifications is alarming and, frankly, unacceptable."

The BID has also highlighted the lack of alternative options for shoppers or workers – describing the current park and ride as an 'insufficient substitute'.

It said: "The Park & Ride service in Shrewsbury currently falls short as an adequate alternative due to its limited schedule and frequency, particularly outside regular working hours and on Sundays.

"Additionally, for those who need to commute during early morning or late evening hours, or who reside in areas not well served by the Park & Ride routes, this option is neither practical nor reliable, thus making it an insufficient substitute for town centre parking."

The letter also questions the motivation for the changes, saying the council's argument over the need for more money to maintain car parks does not square with public concerns.

It states: "Increasing charges to improve car park maintenance does not align with the priorities of town visitors or businesses.

"We very rarely hear comments about the condition of the car parks; in fact, the content of car parking-related discussions has been almost exclusively focused on the already comparably high cost of Shrewsbury’s parking spaces and its negative impact on workers and visitors."

The BID said it has commissioned a 'comprehensive economic impact assessment' to present to the council, in the hopes for forcing a re-think.

It added: "In summary, we are very concerned that the very significant charge increases proposed by Shropshire Council will result in lower footfall, lower economic activity – and that the forecasted increase in parking revenues will not in fact materialise for the Council."

Shropshire Council has been contacted for comment.