People power may have won the day – with two hours of free parking set to make a comeback on Church Stretton’s streets.
Shropshire County Council has put up notices in Church Stretton town centre asking for local views on plans to change the waiting limit from one hour to two hour.
Locals have until July 29 to make their views know to the county council.
Church Stretton Town Council is backing the two hour parking changes. Martin Huszak, chairman of Church Stretton Chamber of Trade, said: “We are getting there. About 100 letters of support for the two hour parking changes are being sent to the county council.
“All this has come about because of a concerted effort, with everybody – the town council, chamber of trader and residents - talking to each other.”
An angry meeting last month at Church Stretton’s Longmynd Hotel saw traders, chamber of trade members, and civic leaders quizzing the council’s parking enforcers ParkRight on their heavy-handed enforcement of on street parking.
Traders claimed that shoppers were being driven away from Stretton because of over-zealous parking enforcement.
They also felt that the town was being unfairly targeted by the ParkRight wardens.
“With the economic dive the last thing you need if people in blue uniforms fining everyone,” Mr Huszak said.
He added that the chamber was now also campaigning for two hours of free parking on the Church Stretton Lion Meadow car park. “If we get that it would be brilliant,” the chairman said.