TAUNTON Deane taxpayers will not have to foot the bill for their council bringing an early end to its pay and display contract for seven car parks.

Taunton Deane Borough Council announced on Thursday, May 31, that it would be ending pay and display in seven of the major car parks in Taunton in favour of a barrier-based pay on exit system.

The council has put aside £1.2m to implement the changes, along with improved signs to direct commuters and visitors to these areas.

But no public money will be stumped up in compensation to Phone and Pay, which will continue to operate pay and display services elsewhere in the district, for the loss of earnings from these seven sites.

The seven car parks which will become pay on exit are as follows:

  • Castle Street
  • Canon Street
  • Enfield (off Castle Street)
  • High Street (off Old Pig Market)
  • Orchard (off Old Pig Market)
  • Tangier (off Castle Street)
  • Wood Street

The changes will be phased in one car park at a time in minimise disruption to drivers, with the work due to be completed in August.

RELATED: Taunton Deane Borough Council car park improvements begin

As well as installing barriers, the council will install variable messaging signing (VMS), which directs drivers to these car parks and informs them how many spaces are available in each location.

These signs will be installed in the following locations, among others:

  • Cross Keys
  • East Reach
  • Priorswood Road
  • Silk Mills
  • Toneway
  • Wellington Road

Councillor Roger Habgood, executive member for transport and parking, said: “The introduction of VMS will really improve the flow of traffic and help drivers find the space they need quickly and efficiently.

“Similar systems operate in cities across the country and I am pleased that Taunton Deane is implementing such a significant investment.

“Pay on exit has also proved popular elsewhere as it removes the time pressure on motorists using our car parks, so they can enjoy spending more time in our shops, cafes and restaurants and other attractions.

“This is part and parcel of our belief in the regeneration of Taunton town centre by providing the necessary infrastructure.”

These changes did not go out to formal public consultation, but were instead approved in principle at a meeting of the council’s corporate scrutiny committee in December 2017.

The council said that these changes “had long been an aspiration” and that local businesses supported the move.

The remaining pay and display car parks, both in Taunton and across the wider district, will remain unchanged, with Phone and Pay continuing to operate its mobile payment service on the council’s behalf.

The council has confirmed that it will not have to pay any compensation to the company for loss of earnings as a result of these seven car parks being converted into pay on exit.

The pay on exit car parks will be run by the council’s existing parking services team, with no third party or outside contractor needed to run the ticketing machines or operate the barriers.

The council has also confirmed that it will not be using number plate recognition software in these car parks.

A spokeswoman said: “Number plate recognition is not a feature. Anyone with a complaint should contact our parking services, as is current practice.”

The council has not indicated whether such changes will also be rolled out into car parks operated by West Somerset Council.

Taunton Deane and West Somerset will be abolished in April 2019 to create the new Somerset West and Taunton Council, with the ‘shadow authority’ comprising all councillors meeting for the first time on Thursday evening (June 7).

The spokeswoman added: “This is not a prospect at present. It will be up to the new council to make decisions on matters such as this.”