One of Shrewsbury's most well-known businesses has warned it could consider leaving the town if Shropshire Council goes ahead with major hikes in parking charges.Now Tanners Wine Merchants, one of Shrewsbury's most successful long-standing independent businesses, has warned of the impact the charges could have on its staff, saying it could look at moving out of the town as a result.
Shrewsbury Business Improvement District , which represents the town's businesses and has been campaigning against the move, has welcomed that decision, saying it marked"a positive step in the right direction". “There is little doubt that the sort of increases currently proposed will put many people off setting foot in Shrewsbury, period, for a long time."
The BID research has estimated the town could lose £7 million a year as people stay away due to the increased parking charges. “I’ve had my place for seven years now, and during this time, the affordability of parking in Shrewsbury has dramatically reduced. Elisa Lewis, manager of national retailer Marks & Spencer’s Castle Street branch, expressed her concern about the implications, saying:"We're really worried about the impact on customer footfall and staff retention for our store. Accessible and affordable parking is essential for attracting visitors to Shrewsbury's town centre.