DULVERTON Town Council has “vigorously condemned” Somerset West and Taunton Council’s increased parking charges which will result in an hour’s parking in Dulverton rising by over 14 per cent – the biggest in West Somerset.

At the town council meeting, members claimed that the rise demonstrated “a total lack of understanding” by the district authority, and that the short period charge should be reduced, or even eliminated, to encourage the use off street parking by shoppers in the town.

A statement after the meeting said: “There was no dissent from the general feeling of disappointment and anger that the new district council has not progressed the cause of the smaller local communities for which it is responsible, despite grand words of self-promotion from its leader.

“West Somerset has the dubious honour of being the worst area in the country for social mobility, a situation that will be worsened by decisions such as this.”

Councillors claimed that no regard has been given to the “gross inequalities” between West Somerset and the former Taunton Deane area where car parks in Taunton and Wellington were free on Sundays.

A spokesman said: “The district council currently has a surplus of £3.4 million a year in its car parking account so there is no justifiable reason to raise another £500,000 to pay for Taunton’s park and ride scheme.”

Councillors agreed to write to Cllr Federica Smith-Roberts, leader of the council, to express its disappointment that, despite all her personal assurances, her council continues to make unreasonable decisions which badly affect rural communities.”

The letter added: “These decisions are made without any local knowledge, without a genuine understanding of the effects and especially without any consultation with knowledgeable local councils.”

Full report in today’s Free Press.