MINEHEAD Chamber of Trade is to meet with the leader of West Somerset District Council over the proposed hike in car park charges.

At last week's meeting of the chamber, furious traders hit out at the increases which they said came at a time when the council should be looking at ways to reduce parking charges.

In January, councillors supported in principle the proposal to raise parking charges throughout the district to generate an extra £75,000 a year.

But the Chamber of Trade considers this could prove counter-productive as both business and tourism could suffer from the charge increases, which would be phased over four years.

Members felt the council, which is committed to giving 'best value', should extend the pledge to include the town centre businesses.

And they said many people worked hard to draw visitors to Minehead and the surrounding area, but this could be ruined if higher parking charges were introduced.

Minehead Chamber of Trade chairman Marcus Kravis said the meeting felt that the recommendation was wrong and he urged all members, including any who were not present, to speak to their local councillors.

"I also urge Minehead's district councillors to speak to their constituents and gauge what the public think of this issue and not support the cabinet this time.

"The businesses in Minehead are always looking to give value for money and the tourist industry is always trying to keep down the cost of holidays.

"Businesses do not then want to see their potential customers fleeced by car parking charges."

Mr Kravis has since spoken to district council leader Cllr Stephen Pugsley who has agreed to a meeting in February to discuss the matter.

The proposal is to increase charges by 25 per cent in the first year and eight per cent a year thereafter. In the first year, this would mean an average rise from 20p to 30p an hour and £2 to £3 for all day parking.

l WOULD-be Labour MP for West Somerset Bill Monteith has hit out at the district council's plans to raise car parking charges.

He said: "I find it utterly inconceivable that, when the West Somerset towns are suffering from a lack of visitors and with businesses reporting downturns in trade, any council could be as insensitive and indeed short-sighted as to contemplate any measure that may further damage these already fragile economics.

"More importantly, however, it shows that the council needs to be in touch with the needs of businesses and the general community, many of which depend on these businesses for their jobs and for whom the car is currently the only practical method of transport.

"There are also explanations needed regarding the disparity between the parking charges in certain parts of the district."