Sunday parking charges will hit Ludlow traders hard says councillor (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Sunday parking charges will hit Ludlow traders hard says councillor

8:00am Sunday 9th September 2012 in News

PARKING charges on a Sunday could be the final straw for some Ludlow shops.

This warning came from Councillor Graeme Perks who has warned against a proposal by Shropshire Council to introduce parking charges on a Sunday.

Ludlow Town Council is taking part in a consultation about changes to parking arrangements.

Councillors are backing the introduction of a single residents parking area to replace the existing red and blue zones.

“There should be one residents parking area that will enable people to move about the town to find a parking place,” said Councillor Jim Smithers.

But the council made no recommendation about Sunday parking charges despite a plea from Graeme Perks, pictured, that enough was enough.

“This could be the straw that breaks the camels back for traders in Ludlow,” he said.

“Parking is being used as a cash cow by Shropshire council and this is the opportunity for Ludlow to say that enough is enough.”

But Martin Taylor-Smith, who represents Ludlow South on Shropshire council, believes the town has done well out of revenue from the parking charges.

He claimed if parking was free it would result in a 4.5 per cent increase in the council tax precept.