Parking charges in Market Drayton are set to rise next week, with fears growing that charging will be introduced on the town’s two free car parks.
Short stay parking at Frogmore Road and Queen Street car parks will go up by 10p an hour from April 1, with a maximum three-hour stay rising from 90p to £1.20.
But as part of a countywide review of parking, Shropshire Council will consider later this year whether to introduce charging on all its car parks, including Towers Lawn and Newtown which are currently free.
Traders in Market Drayton gave a mixed reaction to the price rises this week but were united against any move to make Towers Lawn and Newtown “pay-and-display” car parks.
Chris Fennell of Chris Fennell Appliances in Queen Street said: “The council needs to wake up and realise that we’re not a huge town like Shrewsbury.
“Market Drayton is a small town with independently-owned shops that are struggling and instead of putting up car park charges, they should make certain days in the town free.”
Zoe Bloor of Hocus Pocus Designer Florist in Shropshire Street said: “I don’t think £1.20 is too bad when you pay more in Telford.
“But I don’t think you should have to pay to park at the swimming centre (Newtown) and Towers Lawn because it’s not fair on the workers who park there. Where are they going to go?”
Madeline Grainger of Temptations Jewellers in Queen Street said the council had “ignored” the 3,700 people who signed her petition two years ago for parking charges in Market Drayton to be scrapped.
“It was so unfair in the first place to bring it in seven or eight years ago when Whitchurch, Wem and Ellesmere were kept free,” she said. “We were singled out as a pilot scheme, without any consultation and we’ve suffered ever since.”
Samantha Tharme, Shropshire Council’s principal transport planner, said: “We are currently reviewing all car park charges across the county and will be making recommendations, which in some cases could include new charges for car parks that were previously free.
“This review aims to ensure fair and consistent parking charges across the county.”
By Winston Brown