Parking will be free from 8am to 6pm in all Shropshire Council car parks from 12 to 25 April 2021, to provide the county’s town centre traders with a welcome boost once non-essential shops and personal care providers reopen, and pubs and restaurants are able to serve customers outdoors.
Shropshire Council hops that the free parking will encourage people to visit local businesses once the current lockdown measures are eased in line with the government’s roadmap. If the reopening date for non-essential shops is delayed beyond 12 April, which doesn’t look likely at this point, the dates of the offer will be amended.
Tish Dockerty, secretary of Ludlow Chamber of Commerce, said she was pleased with the move:
“Local businesses need all the help they can get, there are many not going to survive this arduous lock down without significant support from government. This is a generous offer which hopefully will have some impact on people’s behaviour. Everyone is looking forward to a day when it’s safer to be outdoors and in the real world again.”
Andy Boddington, Shropshire Council for Ludlow North, which includes the town centre, said:
“This is a great move. We need everything we can get to keep the small businesses of our market town alive until that can thrive again towards the end of the summer. Plans to promote Ludlow as restrictions ease are well underway but we still need to be careful until we are sure that we have put the pandemic well and truly behind us.”
Shropshire Council says:
“On-street parking charges will remain so that the parking bays can be used for those needing to use the 15 minutes’ ‘pop and shop’ free parking, and to provide short-stay and easy access to essential services in the town centres – especially for those who find it difficult to walk significant distances.”
Current season ticket and residents’ permits for Shropshire Council car parks will be extended by two weeks.
Shropshire Council press release.