In January, Shropshire Council announced plans for significant price increases of 29-67% in all but one of the town’s council-owned car parks. This would raise the price of a day's parking from £4.80 to £8 at the most affordable location.

The Council is also planning to remove all parking charge caps, extend charging hours until 8 pm and remove free parking offers on Sundays.  
 
Shrewsbury BID has been lobbying Shropshire Council since plans were announced; within a week, we presented a comprehensive report addressing the potential impacts of the proposed parking charge increases, the result of input from over 800 respondents and discussions with town stakeholders. 
 
Despite this report, and considerable public opposition, Shropshire Council voted unanimously at a Cabinet meeting on 17th January to implement the increases without any formal public consultation. 
 
We have now completed an economic assessment that models a number of scenarios and impacts which could follow from the drastic increases being proposed. 

• A drop in town centre footfall of around 250,000 people per year 
• A resulting decrease of around £7 million spending in the town centre
• An additional 81,000 trips shifting parking behaviour to residential areas, including workers and visitors 

Now, we call on Shrewsbury workers, residents, and visitors to join us in urging Shropshire Council to halt its plans.

We further demand the Council limit future increases in line with inflation, consult the business community on all changes to town centre access, and develop holistic plans to improve movement and foster economic growth in the town centre, not harm it. 

Stand with Shrewsbury town centre in safeguarding the vitality, vibrancy, and value of our town as a thriving hub for the people and businesses of Shropshire. 

If this petition receives over 1,000 signatures, it will be debated at a future full council meeting.