Ludlow multi-storey car park idea splits opinion

A Ludlow councillor has said the idea is an interesting one for the town which should be considered, but many responses from residents have not been positive suggesting the building would be an eyesore and out of place in such a small town, as well as increasing traffic.

Tish Dockerty, secretary of Ludlow Chamber of Commerce, suggested the idea in a response to Shropshire Council's planned changes to parking charges, saying the real problem in Ludlow was that there was not enough parking.

Now Andy Boddington, Shropshire Councillor for Ludlow North, has said it is an idea worth considering seriously.

He said: "The idea has been mooted a few times over the years along with demands that off-street car parks to be handed over to Ludlow Town Council. With Shropshire Council reviewing how much it squeezes out of the public for car parking, it is timely to look at the idea again.

"We have constant complaints about the lack of car parking in the town centre, not just from visitors but also those doing their daily shopping at our independent shops and supermarkets.

"The only practical place for a multistorey is on the car park behind the Library, Upper Galdeford B. A multi-storey at this location would take advantage of the contours of the land. If it was one-storey high – two parking decks – an extra 220 spaces could be created."

He said that would increase off-road parking in the town centre by nearly 40 per cent.

He said while multi-storey car parks were "notoriously ugly and unloved", with careful design and planning that did not need to be the case, though there would be questions over how to fund the project, and a business case would need to be made to Shropshire Council.

He admitted there were also "significant disadvantages" to such a scheme.

"A two-deck car park will generate perhaps an extra 500 to 600 vehicle movements a day. That will increase traffic pressure on the Galdeford corner and the One Stop junction in East Hamlet, as well as along Gravel Hill," he said.

Members of the public responding on the councillor's blog website were not keen on the idea.

Peter van Duijvenvoorde said: "I am not in favour. This would be another step towards making Ludlow just like any other town."

Robert Skelton added: "No. Gravel Hill is not easy to drive along now. There’s congestion created by parked cars. Better park and ride facilities would help, as would finding a way to make it unnecessary for coaches to squeeze their way along High Street."

A Jones agreed, saying: "The town is famous for attracting visitors because of its heritage – it needs to stay that way! Multi-storey car parks are for larger towns that need to utilise space."

Councillor Boddington has launched an online poll to gauge opinion.