MOTORISTS could see the cost of parking their cars in West Somerset rocket over the next four years.

However, some could find the price of their parking tickets cut, while those buying parking permits could make substantial savings.

Members of West Somerset District Council have already given their support in principle to the idea of increasing parking charges throughout the district to generate an extra £75,000 a year for the council.

But already the idea has run into trouble, with Labour Cllr Simon Stokes accusing his colleagues of acting against the interests of the region's struggling seaside economy.

He said: "They are proposing a 25 per cent increase in the first year, followed by an eight per cent increase next year and the year after that at a time when we are trying to save our seaside resorts and town centres.

"They know Minehead seafront is dying because people are shopping where there is free car parking, so to do this is absolutely ludicrous."

Cllr Stokes also claimed councillors had supported the rise - which has yet to formally be given the go-ahead - without having all the facts and figures in front of them.

He said he himself was still waiting to get a copy of an appendix containing the facts and figures more than a week after the meeting was held to discuss the proposals.

Councillors had actually been asked to decide whether they wanted to forge ahead with the review of car park charges "as set out in appendix one". Cllr Stokes claims they simply followed the recommendation without having the appendix to hand.

The Free Press, which legally must be sent a copy of all council agendas, did not have a copy of the appendix either, but was sent a bundle of figures from the council on request.

The car park proposals form part of the authority's on-going Best Value review, which seeks to ensure everything done by the council is cost-effective and efficient.

They include changing the charging times for some car parks from 9am to 6pm to 10am to 6pm and creating different charges for the winter and summer seasons.

For example, out of season, drivers currently have to pay ten pence an hour and 60p for ten hours in Williton, 20p and hour and £1 for ten hours in North Road, in Minehead, and the same for parking in Dunster Steep car park.

Under the proposed increases, by 2005 that could rise to 40p an hour and £1.70 for a reduced time of eight hours in Williton, 50p an hour and £2.50 for eight rather ten hours in North Road, Minehead, and the Steep, Dunster, during the winter season from November to February.

In contrast, during the peak season in 2005, prices could hit 50p an hour and £3 for nine hours in Williton, 70p an hour and £4 for nine hours in North Road, Minehead, and 80p an hour and £5 for nine hours in the Steep, Dunster.

Meanwhile, prices will be dropped for those using Summerland car park, in Minehead, from April to October this year from £1.50 for two hours to £1. The price would then drop to 50p for two hours out of season before rising again to £1.20 for two hours in the 2002 holiday season.

Council officers believe the charges are favourable and fair when compared with those in other districts in Somerset.

In Taunton Deane, motorists can currently park in the cheapest car park for ten pence an hour, rising to £3.50 all day, while in Sedgemoor an hour would cost 20p and all day parking £2.50.

In contrast, a blanket 25 per cent increase in West Somerset would average out at the current charge of 20p an hour rising to 30p in the first year, and all day parking rising from £2 to £3.

But officers have also highlighted the benefits of using parking permits which are paid up-front and are valid in almost all of West Somerset's car parks for a year.

Proposals, based on a full permit, include holding the current £55 price until March 2002 when an 18 per cent increase would then be levied bringing the cost up to £65.

In March 2003 that would go up a further eight per cent to £70, followed by another eight per cent rise in March 2005 to £77.

If the proposals are eventually given approval by councillors, the new charging structure is likely to come into force in April this year.