Letter: Motorists are used for our cash

When there were howls of protest about the introduction of parking fees on a Sunday at Ludlow we were told it was to help pay for the introduction of a Sunday park and ride.

The present Mayor of Ludlow, Jim Smithers, blew that out of the water with a Freedom of Information question which revealed that fees and fines for parking in the town would more than have covered any extension of the park and ride.

Now we are told that Shropshire Council won't be subsidising the park and ride anyway because it has let it to two commercial concerns and to subsidise in those circumstances would be against the law.

So just where is the increase in income to be spent? Money was spent on the Castle Street car park with the net result that the view was opened up for disabled people but with a loss of about 20 spaces.

That apart, I can think of no significant improvement to the parking or transport situation in Ludlow over several years. So, is it the case that Shropshire Council, like others across the country, is using the motorist as a cash cow to bolster its depleted finances? We deserve to be told.

Andy Wright

Ludlow