A DECISION to hike car parking charges next January by 10 per cent has been defended by Somerset Council’s Liberal Democrat administration as a ‘fair approach’ to a ‘complex’ issue.

The council has come under fire from council taxpayers for its proposals for significant increases in charges and also bringing in Sunday charges for the first time, which it has now postponed until after next May’s local elections are over.

The authority was also criticised for spending £272,824 on consultants to tell it how busy was each car park.

But, council leader Cllr Bill Revans said the new charges were a ‘balanced, fair way of moving forward’.

Cllr Revans said a ‘considerable amount of work’ had been undertaken to adjust the proposed car park charges in light of public feedback.

Cllr Revans said: “The simple fact is, we must be fair to all towns in Somerset, and that is the policy we are pursuing.

“We inherited a patchwork quilt of previous arrangements.

Somerset Council leader Cllr Bill Revans.
Somerset Council leader Cllr Bill Revans says increases in car parking charges across the county are ‘fair’. (Somerset Council)

“Of course, I have sympathy with motorists, because nobody likes increases in car park charges, but we have a policy that the user pays.

“This has been a huge piece of work.

“It has taken a long time to get it right.”

But, deputy leader Cllr Liz Leyshon defended the moves as an ‘inevitable’ part of creation of the new unitary authority which replaced the former county and four district councils in Somerset.

She said: “Parking charges have a great disparity across Somerset.”

Cllr Federica Smith-Roberts said: “The 10 per cent increase we are going to bring forward in January seems reasonable.

“We have not put it up for some time, and we should look to do that annually in order to make sure that we are able to cover costs and provide a good service from our parking team.”