A public consultation on proposals to introduce Sunday charges in Somerset Council car parks started on Monday, 8 September.

There are currently different charging principles applied across the county’s 200+ Council-run car parks, and the system has not been reviewed since Somerset Council came into being in 2023. The Sunday charging proposals are the start of a process aimed at harmonising charging practices across the county.

The proposal to consult on Sunday charges, approved by Executive earlier in the year, gives the public a chance to have their say before any final decisions are taken.

Under the previous five councils there were different approaches to Sunday charges in car parks. This means that there are currently Sunday charges at many car parks, including for example in Watchet, Minehead, Wells, Glastonbury, Cheddar, Street, Frome, Shepton Mallet, Williton and Burnham-on-Sea. However, there are no charges currently in Taunton, Wellington, Bridgwater, Chard. Crewkerne, Yeovil and Highbridge.

The aim of the proposal is to bring consistency across Somerset while also ensuring the parking service continues to be completely self-funded to cover staffing, serving and administrating penalty notices, and managing and maintaining car parks to a high level.

The consultation started on 8th September and runs for six weeks, closing on 20 October. The public and businesses can take part here.