A NEW parking strategy for Shropshire has been dubbed a “dog’s breakfast”.

Labour leader Councillor Alan Mosley criticised the shake-up of parking charges and called for an alternative strategy, focusing on Shrewsbury and other market towns around the county.

Members of Cabinet has voted in favour of a series of changes, including the introduction of linear pricing, tariffs for heavy goods vehicles, and the reduction of the concessionary pop-and-shop from 15 minutes to five minutes.

Cllr Mosley said: “This is an operational plan to increase income and slightly improve the conditions on some of our car parks.

“I would like us to look more at a traffic and parking strategy for our town centres, particularly Shrewsbury. We have the start of that in the Big Town Plan.

“But the way in which this has been presented to the public and interpreted with some spin has been a dog’s breakfast. To go out to two consultations is a farce. People don’t understand the objectives other than this is to make money.”

Cllr Mosley also urged members to wait for the Pride Hill renovations to be completed before any parking changes are introduced, but was told that work should be completed by the time the charges are introduced in September.

Cllr Steve Davenport, portfolio holder for Transport and Highways, told members that the proposals being put to cabinet had “changed quite dramatically” from those that initially went out to consultation.

He continued: “We have listened to what people have had to say.

“We have to make money, we have got to change car parks, to improve them.”

The meeting was told Cllr Davenport had recently visited Ludlow to discuss concerns with Clly Andy Boddington and Mayor of Ludlow, Tim Gill.

This led to a U-turn and will see free on-street parking available from 6pm and not 8pm as previously proposed, while parking concessions will be given to Ludlow market traders but nowhere else in the county.

Cllr Peter Nutting, leader of Shropshire Council, said: “We have listened to people. We can’t comply with everything people would like but we have tried to go some way to lessen their concerns.”

Members agreed the changes and that the strategy go to scrutiny in six months and 12 months to be reviewed.