OSWESTRY town councillors have called for the opportunity to pay by card in the town’s many car parks.

At the Markets and Town Centre Committee meeting on Wednesday, councillors requested talks on the provision of ticket machines that accept card payments or the use of parking apps to help shoppers park with ease, following in the footsteps of other town councils.

The issue, which was not included in Wednesday’s agenda but will now be added to a future agenda, was raised by Councillor Mark Jones, who highlighted the need for card payments after receiving complaints from members of the public.

“I’ve had some complaints as people can’t use card and they don’t carry cash around with them,” he said.

Cllr Vince Hunt said: “It’s worth looking at the use of apps and card machines, it might be useful.”

And Cllr Paul Milner added: “Phone apps are a good idea because you can add more time on them.

“I think it will keep people in the town centre for longer.”

Town Clerk Arren Roberts responded by saying that the council would look into it by bringing forward a card payments discussion at a future meeting.

He said: “We have priced up changing the machines over and it’s coming up in the region of £80,000 and a cost of 22 pence per transaction.

“We can look at paying by app.”

One of the town councillors who also backed the idea was Cllr Mike Coppock who has noticed an increase in people paying by phone in his shop.

He said: “A lot of youngsters don’t carry cash round with them, that includes car users as well.

“I think the council need to grasp the nettle and do it – it will be more convenient and encourage shoppers to town.”