A review of car parking charges across the County has been given the green light by Somerset Council’s Executive this week.
It includes proposals, outlined in a report for Executive, for a new tiered pricing structure for both on-street and off-street parking. This would see car parks placed within a sliding scale of fees depending on location.
The new charging structure would apply seven days a week, but if adopted would still include periods of free parking for some car parks. Any introduction of fees to existing free car parks would be evidence-based following discussions with local businesses, council members, town, city and parish councils and other stakeholders.
Following this week’s decision there will now be comprehensive survey and information gathering exercise across all of Somerset’s 200 Council-run car parks, as well as on-street parking locations.
A report will be brought back to Executive later in the year on the suggested pricing for various tiers before a locally-based consultation process can begin with communities. This will be ahead of any decision on which tier will be allocated to each car park and will include any necessary measures such as double yellow lines to protect residential areas from any potential parking displacement.
Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Transport and Waste Services, Councillor Richard Wilkins said:
During the last year we have been working hard to establish a system of parking fees which is more consistent across Somerset.
We are committed to a county-wide town by town review to help us build a new charging structure for on-street and off-street parking based on what is right for towns and communities – we accept that not all car parks are used in the same way, so we are looking at a proposal which places them in one of five tiers depending on location and usage.
At the moment we still have very different charging systems depending on where you are in Somerset – this new approach would offer a uniform policy which is consistent but is not a one-size fits all approach. It is aimed at encouraging turnover and sustainable travel into Somerset’s towns.
The proposal needs to be backed up by our survey data and engagement with businesses and residents.
It’s vital we get this right. We will confirm the tiers as well as the charging once this process is concluded, later in the year.
The draft five tiers show indicative charges which would be applicable seven days a week and would be finalised after the review. They have been developed by an external specialist and they are based on a combination of existing charges around the four legacy council areas alongside benchmarking against neighbouring authorities.
Once the survey is complete Executive will consider a more detailed system later in the year with car parks placed in their relative tiers with a view to approving the proposed charging structure pending engagement with communities.
The review will also look at a consistent approach to concessions and season ticket charges as well as rationalising pay and display infrastructure and transition to cashless systems where feasible.
Any proposals signed off by the Council will need to go through the statutory Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) consultation process where formal to record consider objections and comments will be considered.
You can find the full report here: Agenda for Executive on Wednesday, 11th March, 2026, 10.00 am – Modern Council
