COUNCIL chiefs have bowed to public pressure over mobile-only payments at car parks in Ellesmere and Wem.

Shropshire Council will re-instate coin payments at Sparbridge and Mill Street after complaints since pay and display machines were removed on January 28 as part of a trial.

A council spokesman said: "Having received a large number of questions, comments and complaints about this change we have now agreed to reinstate the pay and display machines in these car parks so that coin payments can be made in addition to cashless parking.

"This will require an update to the pay and display machine software, which will be carried out as soon as possible."

Before the U-turn was announced, Councillor Geoff Elner told the Advertizer that Ellesmere Town councillors had not been consulted over the trial.

Meanwhile, the council will amend the signage in Wem’s Leek Street car park to permit the use of the payment machines on High Street car park.

"This will allow coin payments to be made within a reasonable distance of the Leek Street car park if required," the spokesman added.

"This will be completed as soon as possible."