Somerset Council’s Executive will meet next week to consider proposals for a revised and phased move towards a fairer and more consistent approach to parking charges across the county.
There are currently different rates and charging principles applied across Somerset’s 120 council-run chargeable car parks and the system has not been reviewed since the creation of Somerset Council in 2023. In addition there are 42 car parks which are currently free to use.
The proposals follow a comprehensive review of all Somerset’s car parks and aim to bring in a new county-wide tier-based charging system. This is part of the Local Government Reorganisation process in Somerset that saw five councils come together into one from April 2023.
Following feedback from the community and the Climate, Environment and Place Scrutiny Committee, the proposals have been revised to a phased approach to give drivers, businesses and communities more time to adjust to the changes, and mitigations to be put in place.
If approved, existing car park charges, which have not increased since August 2025, would rise by 10% from January 2027, with the tier-based system starting later in the autumn of 2027.Where parking charges have historically been particularly low, a phased approach will be introduced. Initial increases will move charges part way towards the proposed tier tariff, helping to reduce the impact of larger changes while providing time for users to adjust.
Councillor Liz Leyshon, Lead Member for Finance, Procurement and Performance, said:
As a new unitary council, we inherited a patchwork system for parking charges which is fundamentally unfair.
We have a duty to address this, and these proposals are about creating a clearer and more consistent system, while recognising that every town and community is different.
We have listened to the issues raised at scrutiny and by the community and have revised the approach so that changes are phased where current charges are especially low.
Other recommendations include:
• Approval of up to £350,000 from the Parking Reserve to replace outdated payment machines across Somerset.
• Approval of up to £150,000 to redesign bays at Taunton’s Orchard Multi-Storey Car Park, storey by storey, to better accommodate larger and heavier vehicles, including electric vehicles.
• A six-month trial of seven-day operation for Taunton Park and Ride service.
• Proposals to extend town-centre residents’ parking schemes and on-street restrictions from six to seven days, to be in place before any seven-day off-street charging is introduced.
• A framework enabling city, town and parish councils to support local parking objectives if they wish to do so.
No decisions will be taken at this stage on introducing charges at car parks which are currently free.
The council would first engage with communities, local councillors, businesses and other stakeholders on free car parks, on-street parking, permits, concessions and future payment arrangements.
Any proposals requiring changes to parking orders or traffic regulation orders would also go through the relevant statutory process, including consultation and consideration of objections.
Councillor Leyshon added:
We are also proposing practical measures, including better payment machines, larger bays at Orchard Multi-Storey Car Park and a seven-day Park and Ride trial in Taunton.
Importantly, apart from initial changes to enable on-street restrictions to be in force seven days a week in town centres, there will be engagement before any local decisions are made about currently free car parks, on-street parking, permits or concessions. We want communities and local representatives to help shape proposals and ensure local impacts are properly understood.
The Executive will consider the proposals at its meeting on October 7.
You can read the papers here.
