Oswestry Town Council will make a final call on the introduction of overnight parking charges in a meeting next week.
The council temporarily shelved plans for overnight charges earlier six months ago, in the face of strong opposition from residents.
Currently car parking charges only apply between 8am and 6pm in the three car parks in town operated by the town council – Central car park, Horsemarket car park and Smithfield Street.
The proposal would introduce an overnight parking charge of £1.20 between 8pm and 8am, and an extension of the hours of the daytime charges.
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In an extraordinary meeting held in March, members of the public said that the plans would turn the town centre into a “ghost town”.
This came as Oswestry Town Council increased the Council Tax precept by 38.7 percent and car parking charges by 20 per cent.
It was voted that any decision would be delayed for at least six months and the papers ahead of the meeting have said that councillors are expected to “resolve the matter”.
In the papers ahead of the meeting it notes that “it is well documented that the Council relies on income from Car Parking to maintain the services it does” but makes no recommendations to councillors.
In the papers it notes: “The decision to increase the Town Council’s income was made as the Council were considering their corporate priorities which included the aspiration to maintain, and improve the level of, services provided by Shropshire Council and to invest in other key priorities.
“At the extraordinary Council meeting, Members heard from community groups and businesses representatives about the impact on their organisation/groups, etc.”
It goes on to add hat “some Members have highlighted that introducing charges will exacerbate town centre parking problems and be costly for town centre residents.
“That said, there are costs associated with car park use i.e. general repair and maintenance, business rates, electricity, and the Central Car Park will need a significant capital investment to resurface it.
“There is an argument that the burden of the costs should be shared by all users.
“Central car park is a public asset and needs to generate significant public value – however the public value is a matter of debate.”
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