A petition signed by 4,177 residents is calling on Somerset Council to rethink its proposed increase to parking charges.
The Stop the Parking Hike petition was sent to the council by Cllr Diogo Rodrigues, Leader of the Conservative Opposition. It follows Somerset Council’s proposals to introduce Sunday charging and other increases, which Burnham-On-Sea.com reported here.
In Highbridge, Bank Street car park currently charges Monday to Saturday, with all‑day parking costing £4.60. Under the proposed changes, that would rise to £6.80, with charging extended to Sundays for the first time.
Burnham-On-Sea’s main council car parks already charge on Sundays, but increases are also planned. At Oxford Street, all‑day parking would rise from £5.80 to £6.80.
Somerset Council’s own documents classify Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge as a “high” priority for on‑street parking intervention, proposing charges in currently free limited‑waiting areas across the town centre.
Council leaders have previously said the aim is to create a more consistent charging system across Somerset after the merger of the former district councils, and to keep the parking service self-funding. Critics, including some in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge, argue the changes risk damaging high streets and visitor numbers.
The petition calls on the administration to:
- Keep Sunday parking free in council-owned car parks in towns where no Sunday charge currently applies, and remove the introduction of Sunday charging from the current proposals.
- Reconsider proposed increases to existing parking tariffs, particularly where the new tier system would result in substantial increases for residents, workers and visitors.
- Keep currently free council car parks free, rather than progressing proposals to introduce new charges at these locations.
- Do not introduce new on-street parking charges without the support of the affected local community and businesses, including the proposals currently being considered for towns across Somerset.
Cllr Diogo Rodrigues, pictured above, says: “The Liberal Democrats allocated £272,824 to consultants for this parking review, and now want residents to pay more to park. Families and local businesses should not be made to pay for the council’s financial mismanagement. People are worried about what higher parking charges will mean for their household budgets, local shops and our town and village centres. We have submitted their signatures to the council, and we will keep collecting them until a decision is taken.”
Cllr Bob Filmer, Somerset Conservatives’ Opposition Spokesman for Transport, pictured top, adds: “These proposals would make it more expensive to visit towns and villages across Somerset. The council needs to take seriously the strength of feeling from the thousands of people who have signed and reconsider the impact on our high streets.” Residents can continue to sign the Stop the Parking Hike petition.
Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Highways and Transport, has defended the plans, saying: “This is fundamentally about fairness and consistency across Somerset. As a unitary authority we inherited a range of different practices in different towns. It is only right that all our car parks are part of the same charging structure, where the same rules are applied to everyone.”
“Within the different tiers there is plenty of room to accommodate different types of car park and usage, to reflect the role of each car park in supporting the local economy, including free provision for some of the time, as well as lower tariffs in less premium and more rural areas.”
“Tariffs at the busier end of the spectrum in bigger centres are aimed at encouraging turnover and sustainable travel into Somerset’s towns.”
“We use parking fees and charges to support local economies, help minimise the adverse environmental impacts of traffic and support the operation of the parking service.”
The comments come as Somerset Council continues a county-wide review of parking charges, including possible Sunday charging in car parks that are currently free and the introduction of fees in some on-street limited waiting bays.
