Somerset Conservatives have launched a new campaign calling on the Liberal Democrat-run Somerset Council to rethink major changes to parking charges across the county.
The “Stop the Parking Hike” campaign comes as the Council considers a new system of parking tariffs which would see charges extended to seven days a week at existing chargeable car parks, alongside significant increases at some locations.
Under the proposals, some communities would see particularly large rises. In Chard, for example, all-day parking at Boden Street would rise from £3.20 to £8.90, while in Ilminster all-day parking at Orchard Vale and Shudrick Lane would increase from £2 to £6.80. Several Crewkerne car parks currently charging £2.50 all day would also rise to £6.80.
There would also be new Sunday charges in towns where council car parks currently only charge Monday to Saturday. In Taunton, for example, Canon Street is currently not charged on Sundays but is proposed to become a Tier 1 car park, where an all-day stay would cost £12.50.
The Council is separately considering the future introduction of charges at a number of currently free car parks. Draft documents identify locations including South Street Market in Yeovil, Priorswood Shops in Taunton, Blue Anchor seafront car park, and car parks in Bruton, Wincanton and Wiveliscombe.
Potential new on-street charging is also being examined. Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge have been identified as a high-priority area, with potential charges across Burnham town centre and all-year pay-and-display on the seafront.
The Conservative Opposition is calling on the Council to keep Sunday parking free where it is currently free, reconsider the largest proposed tariff increases, protect currently free council car parks, and rule out introducing new on-street charges without the support of affected communities and businesses.
‘Some of these increases are eye-watering’
Cllr Bob Filmer, Conservative Opposition Spokesperson for Transport, said:
“Some of these proposed increases are eye-watering. At a time when local businesses are already under enormous pressure, Somerset Council should be supporting our towns and villages, not adding to their difficulties.
What concerns me just as much is that residents, businesses and town and parish councils should have been properly consulted before these changes reached this stage. We need to understand what higher charges will mean for the vitality and viability of our town centres.
That is why we are calling on the Liberal Democrat administration to think again. Keep Sunday parking free where it is currently free, reconsider the biggest increases, protect our free car parks and do not impose new on-street charges without the support of the communities affected.”
‘Rural communities will be hit too’
Cllr Diogo Rodrigues, Leader of the Conservative Opposition, said:
“If you make it increasingly expensive to drive into our towns, park and visit local shops, cafés and businesses, there is a real risk people simply go somewhere else.
In a rural county like Somerset, many people simply do not have the option of walking or using public transport to get into their nearest town. They rely on their cars to get to work, attend appointments, shop and use local services. These increases risk hitting those rural communities particularly hard.
Our message is simple: stop the parking hike and back our town and village centres.”
Sign our petition
Somerset Conservatives have launched a petition calling on Somerset Council to change course before the proposals progress further. You can sign it here.
