A proposal to scrap free parking in Shirley has been labelled “disastrous” by business owners and motorists.

Southampton City Council has launched a consultation on ending free parking in district centre car parks, including in Shirley between 8am and midnight, seven days a week.

The scheme is under a 21-day consultation period with residents invited to submit their objections.

But now furious shop owners and motorists have hit out. Phil Rolf – former owner of greengrocers Jim Rolf on Shirley Road.

Speaking to the Echo, he said: “For Shirley, it’s absolutely disastrous. It seems like there’s a low foot fall in Shirley anyway at the moment and the increase in parking charges isn’t going to help.

“The current system works wonderfully, and people don’t have to pay to park in any of the car park’s if they’re there for an hour or to, I don’t see why it needs changing.

“There are a few schools in Shirley and parents are encouraged to ‘park and stride.’ So, if parents are now being charged to park in the car parks for just a short amount of time, it could cost them an extra £5 a week.”

Howards Grove car park (Image: Matt Davey) READ MORE: Council to scrap free parking in district centres

Marlborough Road and Howards Grove car park would be affected by the price changes, as well as Cannon Street and Bright Glade Court.

Mark Fay, owner of Clockwork Bar on Shirley high street admitted the proposed price hike was a cause for concern to local businesses.

He said: “There are many independent businesses in Shirley that are striving to improve the area by making it a destination for people to come to shop and socialise.

“The fear is that, whilst the proposed pricing is fairly modest, this could be a barrier that might deter people from popping into Shirley to meet friends and drive them to the city centre or out of town, away from their community and the independent businesses that largely serve it. 

“If the money raised is used for initiatives to bolster the high street and Shirley Road, this would be a welcome development, however, I suspect the money raised is destined for elsewhere.”

Motorist, Helen Lucas, who parked in Marlborough Road car park to access the high street, told the Echo: “It doesn’t seem like a good idea, it feels like a real nuisance.”

Following the council’s proposal to increase parking fees, Cllr Eamonn Keogh, cabinet member for transport, previously said: “In our proposal, we have kept the tariffs at a competitive rate in line with the city centre and other local towns.

“The extra funding that we receive from the new tariffs will be used to maintain our car parks and can be reinvested into public transport and highways.”