Parking changes 'a big success'

Parking restrictions were relaxed at the start of December

An experiment to ease parking restrictions in a Shropshire town has been hailed a success by traders.

ParkRight, responsible for traffic enforcement, is currently only handing out £60 fines to drivers who park on double yellow lines in Ellesmere.

It came after residents and businesses claimed traffic wardens were being "over-zealous".

Previously, traffic wardens penalised motorists, including delivery drivers, for parking in loading bays.

Ellesmere Chamber of Commerce chairman Lincoln McMullan said more shoppers were now returning to the town.

Mr McMullan said: "Business has picked up so much that people have now got the enthusiasm to come back and open shops and be part of Ellesmere."

ParkRight, a partnership of local councils, took over parking enforcement from police in November 2006.