Cost scares off shoppers

between Monday and Saturday. They are set to rise to 60p for one hour, £1.10 for two and £2.20 for up to three hours. They currently apply between 8am and 6pm.

Miss Kirby, a mother of two, said: ‘We rely on our loyal customers and tourists to stay alive, whether it’s by car or by foot. We already have to pay a lot for business rates, but parking is the biggest problem. I bought the shop 13 years ago and there were no parking costs at all.’

She suggests the council should use derelict land nearby to set up another car park. ‘That would certainly help ... they should be supporting local retailers like ours.’

Frustrated: Miss Kirby outside her cafe BECKY Kirby fears rising parking costs will deter more customers from visiting her cafe in Ludlow. Shropshire Council is planning to extend pay and display hours in the historic market town. Miss Kirby, 34, who...