Monday, 21st May 2012

Review in store for parking

A review of parking rules outside a Shrewsbury antique centre will be held after a trader was given a parking ticket – despite having a valid parking permit.

Stall holder William Prince received a £35 parking notice after unloading and carrying goods from his Volvo car to his stall at the far end of Shrewsbury Antique Centre, at Princess House, on July 21.

He displayed a special permit on his windscreen, which enables traders to unload vehicles for a 10 minute period, with an informal agreement in place to check with the centre if a trader is still unloading if the time limit has elapsed.

Mr Prince challenged the fine, accusing Shropshire Council of ‘harming’ traders in the town, and bosses agreed to drop it.

A meeting will now be arranged between Shropshire Council and traders at the centre to discuss the issue further and address concerns.

Mr Prince said: “As far as I’m concerned this is daylight robbery as I had my permit displayed.

“The council’s job should be to help traders not hinder us.”

James Walton, assistant director for strategy and business support at Shropshire Council, said: “We will arrange a meeting with the centre to discuss this further and address their concerns.

“Because of this, the parking ticket has been cancelled.”

By David Seadon