Taunton parking charges set for overhaul under new scheme

Motorists could pay more for short stays at many of Taunton's council-run car parks under proposed new tariffs, although some all-day parking charges would fall.

Here is a breakdown of the proposed new parking charges in every Taunton car park.

Drivers in Taunton could soon see changes to parking charges as Somerset Council proposes a new tiered pricing system for its car parks.

Under the plans, council-run pay-and-display car parks would be split into two charging bands, with most locations moving into a standard Tier 2 category while a smaller number of central sites would be classified as Tier 1.

The majority of Taunton's long and short-stay car parks, including Ash Meadows, Belvedere Road, Castle Street, Duke Street, Elms Parade, Enfield, Fons Garage, High Street, Kilkenny, Orchard Multi-Storey, Tangier, Victoria Gate and Wood Street, would move to Tier 2.

Charges at these sites would be set at £1.50 for one hour, £2.70 for two hours, £4.40 for up to four hours and £8.90 all day.

For many motorists making shorter visits, this would mean an increase on current prices, with one-hour parking generally rising from £1.30 to £1.50.

However, drivers staying all day could benefit from lower costs, with the proposed £8.90 all-day rate lower than the current £10.80 charged at several long-stay car parks for up to 10 hours.

Several locations would be placed in the higher Tier 1 category, including Canon Street, Coal Orchard, The Crescent, Whirligig, County Hall and Shirehall.

Charges at these sites would rise to £1.90 for one hour, £3.80 for two hours and £5.80 for up to four hours.

Long-stay sites in the Tier 1 category would also charge £12.50 for all-day parking.

The biggest increases would be seen at Coal Orchard and Whirligig, where the current one-hour tariff of £1.30 would increase by 60p.

Fons George, currently one of the cheapest car parks in the town, would also see charges increase.

Its one-hour tariff would rise from £1.20 to £1.50.

The proposals form part of Somerset Council's plans to standardise parking charges across its car park network.

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.

"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."