Somerset Council has just announced a plan to impose night time and Sunday parking charges as well as charges for limited waiting bays across all council car parks. 

Final key decisions could come as early as 5 March when councillors vote on the budget - a budget likely to provide for the implementation costs and built on assumptions of these charges being rolled out from October. 

The proposals - designed to standardise car park charges  for administrative convenience -  have not been thought through. They are being rushed through under cover of financial emergency and budget setting with inadequate debate and scrutiny. 

There has been no prior consultation with businesses, towns, parishes or residents and no assessment of the socio-economic impact on different localities. 

There is a very real risk of doing unwitting damage to Taunton town’s nightlife including our cultural scene and town centre economy ( charges will inevitably create a disincentive to coming into town to shop, eat and for leisure and entertainment )  and of causing on-street parking chaos in too many areas. In other towns and villages there will be similar negative impacts. 

The charging proposals offer no specific improvements to parking facilities in exchange. 

We call on the Executive of Somerset Council to reject the proposals and instead commit to a proper and meaningful public consultation on options for improving parking facilities across Somerset that takes better account of the needs of residents, businesses, towns and rural areas alike .