MOTORISTS in Minehead will flock to take advantage of free supermarket parking following a hike in charges at the town's public car parks, traders warned this week.

West Somerset Council, which owns the public facilities, approved increases in fees and permits aimed at generating an additional £61,000 of much needed income at a meeting of its cabinet on Wednesday.

But the decision sparked a furious reaction from Minehead Chamber of Trade.

Chairman Marcus Kravis said the increases came at a time of deep recession when traders needed all the help they could get.

"The chamber thinks this will just force its customers into the free car parks at Tesco and the new Morrisons," said Mr Kravis.

"Although the hike may only seem small, some of the price increases in Minehead are from ten to nearly 15 per cent.

"Car parking must be the only business in West Somerset that can increase its prices when the local economy is almost in meltdown."

The council, which is struggling to bridge a £859,000 gap in its finances, has said car parks offer its largest single revenue income stream, bringing in around £600,000 in the current financial year.

And raising charges will mean services will not have to be cut by as much as they would without the higher fees.

The authority insists the increases have been designed to minimise any hardship on local taxpayers, whilst also taking account of the fact that West Somerset is a tourist destination.

But from October the council will also lose the revenue from seafront car parking in Minehead - which up to the end of March last year brought in £124,000 - because it is being transferred to Somerset County Council, the highways authority.

Mr Kravis said the chamber did not solely blame the council for the rises and understood its rationale.

But he said one of the biggest problems in Minehead was the lack of enforcement of 'timed' on-street parking.

A proposed county-wide civil parking enforcement scheme, involving all five district councils and led by Somerset County Council, would take over responsibility for enforcement from the police.

But implementation of the scheme has been delayed and councillors admitted at Wednesday's meeting they had no idea when or if it would come to fruition.

Mr Kravis said the chamber appreciated the police had a "resource versus priority issue" and could not be blamed.

But he said the parking situation in the town was out of control and unacceptable.

"People are parking where and when they shouldn't. The reality is that limited timed parking in Minehead would appear to mean free all day parking.

"Double yellow lines would appear to mean you have a very slight chance of getting a ticket and I am not sure whether a single yellow line actually serves a purpose any more."

Mr Kravis said businesses were suffering as a result of the lack of action and the lack of a clear car parking strategy.

"Traders are fed up with all the relevant authorities blaming each other and some councillors playing party politics.

"While this is happening, people are losing their jobs and livelihoods."

Under the changes, one hour charges in car parks in Minehead, Porlock, Williton and Watchet will rise by ten pence, with fees for up to two hours in Dunster and Kilve increased by the same amount.

But longer stay charges will go up by between 30p and 50p in most car parks.

Charging hours will also be increased, starting at 8am rather than the current 10am.

Permits will rise by between £10 and £30, with a new weekly permit costing £25.

The council also intends to enforce the three-hour limit in car parks for disabled badge holders to tackle current abuse of the system which has seen some motorists enjoying 24-hour free parking.

Cllr David Sanders asked officers at Wednesday's meeting how optimistic they were of generating the additional income.

He said he feared many motorists would simply park elsewhere.

Executive director Adrian Dyer told the meeting: "This is a best estimate and we are in the lap of the gods.

"If we have a bad summer and it rains a lot then I am pretty certain we won't achieve it.

"But if we have a good summer, I am pretty confident we will."

Deputy leader Cllr Michael Downes said the council had tried to keep the increases modest: "We have tried to put them at a level that will not deter people."