Residents and business owners are to be asked for their views on a proposed park and ride scheme in Market Drayton.
A draft document drawn up by Shropshire Council and approved by cabinet members last week identified Market Drayton as one of four Shropshire towns that could adopt the scheme.
It forms part of a countywide review of parking strategy which may also see the introduction of on-street, short stay parking charges.
Consultation about the proposals will take place over the next two months and Shropshire Council is expected to decide on its parking strategy in October.
A Shropshire Council spokeswoman said: “A parking strategy has been drafted to provide a consistent approach to parking across the county, whilst reflecting the local issues in market towns.
“This strategy also proposes that some form of park and ride scheme should be provided if charging for on-street parking is to be introduced in any of the towns.
“Park and ride, as a lower cost alternative for drivers, is seen as an essential option if Shropshire Council decides to introduce on-street parking charges.
“This has been put forward as a suggestion for Market Drayton, Oswestry, Bridgnorth and Whitchurch, while Ludlow and Shrewsbury already have both on-street parking charges and park and ride schemes.”
The park and ride scheme is aimed at reducing the amount of traffic in Market Drayton town centre but reservations have been expressed by one of the town’s Shropshire Council members.
Councillor David Minnery, Shropshire Council member for Market Drayton West, said: “Part of the council’s car parking strategy is to make a park and ride facility available in Market Drayton.
“On balance, anything that improves the parking situation in the town should be welcomed, but not if it is at the price of a further decline in the town centre.
“Everyone who has an interest in this must take the chance to voice their opinions and let the council know what they think.
“I will be happy to feed those views back to the council in due course.”
Details of the council’s proposed parking strategy will be available from next week at the town’s Customer Information Point in Cheshire Street and the consultation period is expected to last for 12 weeks.
By Winston Brown
