Somerset Council to raise parking charges by ten per cent

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 17 Oct, 06:08 · Archive

Somerset Council will increase parking charges by ten per cent from January, with a more substantial restructuring planned for 2027.

Somerset Council will increase car parking charges by ten per cent from January following significant local opposition to more ambitious proposals. The council's executive committee voted in March to undertake a root-and-branch review of parking charges, which could have introduced a new 'tiered' pricing structure for both on- and off-street parking. The council allocated £272,824 from its parking reserve to pay external consultants to gather evidence about car park usage, with detailed proposals published in early September.

Following the backlash, including a petition signed by nearly 4,200 people formally presented to the executive on 7 October by Conservative deputy leader Councillor Dawn Denton, the council watered down its plans. The council defended the ten per cent increase as a 'fair approach' to a 'very complex' issue, stating it had 'inherited a patchwork quilt of previous arrangements' and that doing nothing was not an option.

The council intends to introduce the new 'tiered' system in autumn 2027, after the May local elections. Councillor Denton said the pressure from residents had 'clearly been felt' and welcomed the partial U-turn on the original proposals.

How it is being reported

• Somerset Council defends 'fair' ten per cent rise in parking chargesSomerset Council will be raising parking charges after Christmas - with further changes planned from the autumn of 2027, after the local electionsBridgwater Mercury · 17 Oct, 05:00
• Somerset Council defends 'fair' ten per cent rise in parking chargesSomerset Council will be raising parking charges after Christmas - with further changes planned from the autumn of 2027, after the local electionsSomerset County Gazette · 17 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Somerset Council · Councillor Dawn Denton · Somerset

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