Free Council Car Parks?

Friday, 7 March 2025 09:04

Somerset Council has launched a review of parking charges, which could result in an end to free parking at car parks run by the Council.

The Council says the aim is to create a ‘consistent’ charging policy across all 200 council-run car parks in Somerset.

At the moment, different charges apply, depending on where in the County you park. Also, the charging system has not been reviewed since Somerset Council came into being two years ago.

The Council says the parking service needs to be self-funded to cover staffing costs, the costs of serving and dealing with penalty notices, and managing and maintaining car parks to the highest standard.

The proposals, that will soon go out to public consultation, include:

•   Introducing a new county-wide overnight charge in car parks
•   Standardising charges for Sunday parking at all car parks –
•   Introducing charges at car parks that are currently free
•   Introducing on-street charging to waiting bays in town centres

Lead member for Transport and Waste at Somerset Council, Councillor Richard Wilkins, says the Council is facing significant costs and challenges in running and maintaining its car parks. And, that it is important to bring fairness and uniformity in charges across the county, while at the same time, generating extra income to ensure the parking service is fully self-financed and can continue to be run, staffed, and maintained, properly.