Consultation into proposed parking changes

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Car Park GraphicShropshire Newsroom has today (21/7/17) announced a public consultation on the proposal to revised parking arrangements across the county. Whilst no changes are proposed to the Parish Council owned car park in Hodnet, the proposed changes will affect those of us who regularly drive into the nearby market towns of Market Drayton and Whitchurch. The changes will also apply in Shrewsbury.
The 12-week public consultation is open to residents, visitors, businesses, town and parish councils and other organisations are being encouraged to contribute. The consultation closes on 14 October. The parking strategy determines the way that the council manages and runs its car parks and on-street parking, including how and what it charges for parking.
Shropshire Council LogoThe Council, which has carried out a detailed, evidence-based, review to inform the new draft strategy, and has put forward a number of proposals claiming that will they make parking arrangements simpler, clearer and more consistent, as well as helping to reduce congestion and pollution in Shropshire’s market towns.
The consultation is broken down into four parts, as follows:

  1. Proposals regarding ‘linear’ (set price per hour) parking; pricing bands; unrestricted parking; evening parking; loading bays; ‘pop and shop’ parking, and opening hours at Raven Meadows car park in Shrewsbury.
  2. A new policy and tariff framework for weekly tickets, season tickets, residents’ off-street permits, and for coach and HGV parking.
  3. Proposed changes to Shropshire’s Council’s on-street residents’ parking permit scheme.
  4. Proposed changes to the car parking waiver system.

There is no requirement to complete all four parts, respondents can comment on the ones that are of specific interest or relevance to them.
Part 1 also includes the proposal to make the Newport Road car park (at the swimming baths) in Market Drayton a pay and display one. There have been problems there in recent months with long term parking of multiple untaxed vehicles. (See here & here.)
To take part in the consultation, go to shropshire.gov.uk/parking-consultation. Here you will find a summary of the consultation and links to each of the four sections which can be completed on-line.
Background reading is provided in the Cabinet report and appendices for the meeting held on 12 July this year (Item 8). Alternatively, the single item from the agenda and links to the Draft Parking Strategy item and the 12 appendices (all as PDFs) can be found on this page.
Printed copies of the consultation documents will are available from Shropshire Council libraries and customer service points, and on request by calling 0345 678 9028.