ON-STREET parking permit holders in Minehead could face a 462 per cent increase in the price of their permits under proposals drawn up by Somerset County Council.

Currently, residents in Quay Street and Quay West pay £8 a year to park their cars outside their homes.

In contrast, motorists in Taunton and South Somerset pay £35, and the county council wants to standardise all charges, increasing them across the board to £45 next year.

Also, Minehead's permit holders only pay £8 at the moment for a permit for a second car - and that could rocket to £70 under the proposals.

The county council also wants to increase the charges year on year, taking permits for a first vehicle to £60 by 2015/16 and £70 by 2016/17.

In two years' time, a permit for a second vehicle could set residents back as much as £150.

The proposals are currently the subject of a public consultation and people have until January 10 to have their say.

The council said the changes were necessary to make the residents' parking system fairer across the county, and by standardising and increasing rates, it would ensure the service could cover its costs both now and in the future.

In West Somerset, only Minehead residents currently pay for on-street parking permits, which were previously administered by West Somerset Council until the county authority took over the scheme last year.

More information about the permit proposals is available on the county council's website at http://goo.gl/ltQfAu">http://goo.gl/ltQfAu or by phoning 01823 358196.