'Excessive' parking charge plans for Bridgnorth attacked

They claimed the town is suffering due to lack of transport investment while the authority is raking in hundreds of thousands of pounds in parking charges annually.

The town council branded some of the proposed parking increases as ‘excessive’ and warned that shoppers and visitors could be deterred from visiting Bridgnorth due to a lack of parking spaces.

Shropshire Council earlier this year announced an overhaul of parking which could spell large rises for motorists in the 78 car parks which it runs across the county.

Now Bridgnorth Town Council has written to Shropshire Council, branding the potential increases of between 25 and 66 per cent for short stay car parking in the town as ‘excessive.’

It comes after revelations that the Shropshire authority had made a surplus of nearly half a million pounds operating its four car parks in Bridgnorth during the last financial year.

The town has responded at the end of the12-week public consultation into the new parking strategy with a forthright letter from mayor Councillor Ron Whittle to Shropshire cabinet member for Highways and Transport, Councillor Steve Davenport, outlining concerns about the strategy.

In the letter, Mr Whittle said: “Although Bridgnorth Town Council broadly supports the aims and objectives of the parking strategy, we have considerable concerns about the financial implications and lack of investment in Bridgnorth.

“Shropshire Council made a surplus of nearly half a million pounds operating car parks in Bridgnorth in the last financial year.

“Unfortunately we have seen little in the way of investment in our car parks and the upkeep leaves something to be desired.

“We have no information about what the surpluses are being spent on, or whether they are being used to benefit the Bridgnorth area.

“In the light of high returns being generated from parking in Bridgnorth, we cannot see that it would be appropriate to generate additional income from local residents and workers.”

In response to the consultation, the town council has suggested lowering the hourly rates which have been proposed by Shropshire Council.

Councillor Whittle also highlighted the overall lack of parking spaces in the town – particularly on a Saturday – which is affecting the economy and added there were further concerns over air quality.

“A lack of parking spaces for shoppers and visitors coming into the town is acting as a constraint to the local economy. We feel that there is a pressing need to invest in transport in Bridgnorth, including parking provision.”

Shropshire Council has said it wants a parking strategy which is consistent across the county and offers value for money.