Last September, Shropshire Council consulted on changes to the parking regime introduced in Ludlow in November 2018 and at various dates around the county. Now, it wants to introduce changes to permits for season tickets and residents permits. The changes are technical. They will increase flexibility and better suit local needs.
The council is also consulting on providing on-street permits for holiday lets within Ludlow’s Blue and Red Zones.
Car park permits
Each car park across the county has a quota for residents permits and a separate quota for season ticket holders. However, demand has been higher for season tickets than residents permits. The new consultation proposes combining the quotas for permits. It is a sensible idea and I support it.
The combined quotas are:
- Galdeford Zone A (the top deck): 51
- Galdeford Zone B (the lower decks): 106
- Smithfield: 52
There are similar changes proposed for Bridgnorth, Church Stretton, Ellesmere, Market Drayton, Much Wenlock, Oswestry, Prees Heath, Shrewsbury, Wem, and Whitchurch.
There are also some minor changes to the charging regime at Raven Meadows car park.
The consultation closes on 26 February.
Holiday lets
Holiday let owners in Ludlow have been unable to obtain on-street permits for their guests under the new regime. This is hitting bookings because people do not want to park their vehicle a long way from the property they have rented. Although parking restrictions do not apply after 6pm in the town centre, no one wants to interrupt a leisurely holiday breakfast to move their car or buy a ticket at 8am.
The new plan is to allow Ludlow holiday let owners to buy a single on-street permit for each property at a cost of £100 a year.
The consultation closes on 27 February.
On-street permits for off-street residents
Residents who live in the ginnels off Lower Galdeford – Warrington Gardens, Pynfold Gardens and Packer Court – have not been able to get permits for the Blue Zone. This seems to have been resolved. Let me know if there are any problems.
The issue of College Court proves to be more complex. We want to move it from the Blue Zone to the Red Zone. That would mean that residents who own cars won’t need to park down the hill on Linney. I will be pushing for this change as soon as officer time is available.
Hi Andy,
Thanks for resolving the issue with Warrington Gardens and permits.
Does the consultation include allowing more than one permit per household?
Sorry. Still only one permit per household. It will be a while before we get that resolved. From officers today:
“The 2 permits per property and potential adjustments to the areas and zones, will require direct residents informal consultation, before going to formal TRO [Traffic Regulation Order]. I suggest we should perhaps meet sometime early March to talk this through.”
The process will take at least six months.