Town councillors want to hold ‘no confidence’ vote in Shropshire Council over parking hikes

Councillors at a south Shropshire town council are proposing a ‘no confidence’ motion in Shropshire Council after the upper authority proposed hiking parking charges across the county.

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Councillor Darren Childs and Councillor Pete Addis of Ludlow Town Council say the proposed increase in fees will bring “economic harm” to the town’s high street and businesses.

Shropshire Council announced earlier this month that it was thinking of increasing parking charges across the county and a consultation is currently underway.

The move would see on-street parking fees in Ludlow rise from £2.80 to £3.80 an hour.

But the Ludlow councillors have now forwarded a motion to the clerk at the town council to be debated at the next meeting on October 26.

They want the town council to hold a no confidence vote in the upper authority.

In their motion the councillors say: “Shropshire Council has put forward proposals to significantly increase parking tariffs across Ludlow's car parks and on-street parking bays.

“While Ludlow Town Council recognises the financial pressures facing local authorities across the UK, Shropshire Council’s current strategy relies on extracting revenue from Ludlow’s local economy to shore up budgets and maintain services concentrated in Shrewsbury and unitary-wide operations.

“Ludlow relies heavily on independent retail, hospitality, and tourism. Higher parking tariffs penalise visitors, shoppers, and local workers, driving footfall away to out-of-town retail parks or neighbouring towns with lower charges.

“Residents in rural surroundings rely on car transport to access essential local services, healthcare, and amenities in Ludlow town centre. Unreasonable increases act as an unfair tax on essential local travel.”

They also say that Shropshire Council had “failed to genuinely consult or collaborate with Ludlow Town Council, local business groups, or residents when formulating parking strategies”.

Shropshire Council have said their proposed parking fee changes are intended to improve the availability and turnover of the most centrally located parking spaces; encourage longer-stay users to use less central and more lower-cost parking; and support greater use of public transport, park and ride, walking and cycling where practical alternatives are available.