Council faces backlash about proposed Sunday parking charges

Tessa Dean, Labour’s candidate for the 2027 Somerset Council elections in the Taunton Victoria division, has urged Somerset Council to abandon plans to introduce the charges across the county.

She believes the move would be damaging to a town centre already under pressure.

Ms Dean said: "Sunday parking charges are a sucker punch to local shoppers, high street traders and retail workers alike.

"I firmly oppose any introduction of Sunday or overnight parking fees."

She warned that the charges could drive shoppers to out-of-town retail centres such as Cribbs Causeway, where parking remains free, instead of supporting their local high streets.

Ms Dean said: "At a time when our town needs investment and families are watching every penny, the Council should be working to revitalise our high street, not punishing people for visiting it.

"We should support local businesses and help make life more affordable.

"These cash-grab charges do the exact opposite."

She has called on Somerset Council to drop the proposals entirely, or at the very least, delay any decision until after the next council elections in May 2027.

Ms Dean said: "We are close to the next set of Somerset Council elections, and I cannot understand why the council is continuing with such a significant and potentially unpopular change when residents will soon have the opportunity to choose who represents them.

"If the council wants to press ahead with unpopular Sunday parking charges, let residents have their say at the ballot box first.

"Either scrap the plans now or defer the decision until after the election.

"My position is absolutely clear: if I am elected to represent Taunton Victoria next May, I will vote against the introduction of Sunday parking charges."

The proposed charges are part of a wider parking review by Somerset Council.

In March, the council’s executive approved a new parking charges framework aimed at standardising fees across the county and supporting both residents and businesses.

The new structure places car parks into a five-tier system based on location and usage, with higher fees in town centres and lower tariffs in rural areas.

Somerset Council says the changes could be implemented as early as December, subject to final approval by the executive in September.

Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council's lead member for highways and transport, said: "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."

Mr Wilkins said the tiered system would still allow for flexibility based on parking demand and the needs of each area.

He said: "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."

He said parking income helps to support the broader aims of the council.

Mr Wilkins said: "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 proposals will be reviewed by the council’s Climate, Environment and Place Scrutiny Committee on September 3.

Final approval is expected to be considered by the executive on September 23.

If approved, a new Off-Street Parking Places Order will be published, triggering a 21-day statutory notice period during which objections can be registered and considered.