RECESSION-hit traders in Church Stretton are so angry about plans to limit short term parking in parts of the town centre, they are lobbying customers to sign a petition.
Next week the petitions will be collected up, the signatures totalled, and presented to Church StrettonTown Council however, the town mayor has already dubbed the petition ‘misleading’.
Berry’s Coffee House is just one of eight town centre businesses with the petition available for signature by customers.
John Gott, from Berry’s, said the petition was started by town centre traders outraged at the threat posed by the town council’s decision which was taken, in his view, without sufficient public consultation, to recommend withdrawal of all parking on the High Street between Van Doesburg’s Deli and Salt’s. Mr Gott said many traders were also against plans to create a full-size lorry loading bay in The Square on the site of the present bollards and flower troughs.
He feels this would spoil the look of the historic Square as was mean the loss of much needed parking spaces.
Mr Gott said: “Particularly during the present recession, the traders are very concerned about a measure that will significantly reduce short-term parking in, and therefore customer access to, the town centre, and feel that the council should be supporting their efforts to remain in business, rather than the reverse.
“Town centre residents are equally upset at the potential effect on them of such a drastic reduction in parking, as it is likely that they would lose the ability to park overnight near their homes.”
Church Stretton Town Council held a series of public consultations about plans for the town centre, with locals rejecting the idea of a one-way system down High Street.
But Mr Gott feels town councillors made the wrong recommendations to Shropshire Council.
“The decision was taken, apparently, following public rejection of Shropshire Council’s proposals for a one-way system in the town centre, but without any consultation with residents or traders.
“The feedback from for those attending presentations on the one-way system made no mention of parking space reduction or withdrawal.”
Church Stretton’s Mayor Councillor Bob Welch told the Journal: “While I understand traders’ anxieties about any proposed change, especially at a time of recession, I am very disappointed by the over-hasty issuing of a misleading petition, without checking with the town council first.
“This petition misinforms residents about what has so far been recommended on town centre enhancement by the town council to Shropshire Council, which will make the ultimate decisions on how its money is spent.”
He said the consultation included three public meetings and 157 feedback forms in favour of the principle of a 20mph speed restriction in town centre, retaining two-way traffic flow on the High Street and widening one side of the High Street pavement, probably meaning the loss of seven on-street parking spaces, depending on design.
Plans for parking and unloading in the Square were deferred to the town council meeting on March 30 to be discussed with the county wide review of on street and off street parking. Shropshire Council will be issuing draft recommendations on its parking strategy in May or June and it will make a final decision about the Church Stretton scheme at the same time.