A review of parking in Shropshire’s market towns will be considered by Shropshire Council’s Cabinet, which could see the return of Sunday buses in Shrewsbury for the first time in over a decade.

It also considers parking charges, and the times at which they apply, in towns across the county and proposes some changes to parking bands, charges and charging hours.

This review aims to balance the income raised from parking charges with the objectives of Shropshire’s draft Local Transport Plan, which seeks to encourage sustainable travel choices and reduce congestion in town centres.

The proposed changes are subject to public consultation, with all consultation responses being considered before any changes are implemented. No changes would be introduced before Christmas. On-street parking would remain free for blue badge holders.

Shropshire Council’s car parks and parking areas currently sit within seven bands from band 1 (Shrewsbury on-street parking) to band 7 (free parking). Under the proposals:

- The operation hours of bands 1 to 4 car parks and parking areas are proposed to extend from 8am to 6pm, to 8am to 8pm
- In band 2 the current half-rate tariff on Sundays and bank holidays would be removed and the full tariff would apply
- In band 4 charging would be extended to Sundays and bank holidays when the half-rate tariff would apply.

The existing and proposed standard hourly tariffs are summarised below:
- Band 1: Current – £3.60; Proposed –  £4.80
- Band 2: Current – £2.80; Proposed – £3.80
- Band 2, Raven Meadows multi-storey car park: Current – £2.40; Proposed – £2.50
- Band 3: Current – £1.40; Proposed – £2.00
- Band 4: Current – £1.20; Proposed – £1.00
- Band 5: Current – 70p; Proposed – 70p
- Band 6: Current – 40p; Proposed – 40p
- Band 7: Current – free; Proposed – free

The following changes to the banding of individual car parks are proposed:
- Shirehall Overflow, Shrewsbury, would move from Band 5 to Band 6, reducing the hourly tariff from 70p to 40p
- St Mary’s Lane, Much Wenlock, would move from Band 5 to Band 6, reducing the hourly tariff from £70p to 40p
- Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury would move from Band 5 to Band 4, increasing the hourly tariff from 70p to £1, bringing it in line with Frankwell Car Park, for which the tariff would reduce from £1.20 an hour to £1 an hour.

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