Parking rules and charges set to change next year

Plans to increase parking fees by Somerset Council will now come into force from January 2027.

The plans were reviewed after concerns from the community and opposition parties that higher parking costs could affect businesses.

The introduction of Sunday parking fees and a new county-wide tiered charging system will be phased in during the autumn of 2027.

The council says the changes will create a fairer and more consistent approach but no decision has been made on charging at currently free car parks.

From January, prices will increase by 10% across every council operated car park.

Somerset's 120 council-run paid car parks currently operate under a range of different charging rates and rules, which have not been reviewed since the council was formed in 2023.

The introduction of Sunday fees and a tiered charging system will be phased in from late 2027 so that drivers and businesses have enough time to adjust.

The local elections in May could affect future parking policies.

In car parks like Taunton Orchard, up to £150,000 will be spent redesigning spaces at the multi-storey to make them more suitable for larger and heavier vehicles, including electric cars.

As part of a trial, Taunton's park and ride service will run seven days a week for six months.

The council also wants to extend some town-centre residents' parking schemes and on-street restrictions from six to seven days a week.

This would happen before any seven-day charging is introduced in council car parks.

Bill Revans, Lib Dem leader of Somerset Council, said: "We need consistency across our patch.

"We have inherited a patchwork quilt of parking charges when we merged councils together and we need standardisation."

Conservatives have opposed the plans and say they have gathered thousands of signatures against them.

Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.