Parking charges planned and Wivey protest

Somerset Council has rushed through new parking charges for inclusion in the budget for 2025/26. The plans were first published in reports to a scrutiny committee on 24 February 2025, when I spoke strongly against the then proposals. The committee recommended that public consultation was needed first, along with assessment of equalities and economic impacts. However, new parking charges were adopted only a week later by the Executive on 3 March 2025, where I spoke again against the new charges. Full council then set the annual budget two days later on 5 March 2025, which included a commitment to achieving the income from the new charges.

UPDATE, 14 MAY 2025: The new charges in Milverton and Wiveliscombe car parks are unlikely to start in October, as had been planned by Somerset Council. Discussion about proposals are now to be held with the local Somerset Councillors and Town/Parish Councils before public consultation takes place, which may not be until towards the end of the year. The delay is due to a lack of officer capacity to progress consultation and the parking policy amendments.

Plans and protests

Protests against charging in free car parks was at its strongest in Wiveliscombe. A group of us quickly organised an event in Croft Way car park on Saturday, 1 March 2025, which was attended by about a 100 people. Our protest was well covered on regional ITV News, Somerset Leveller and in local papers, as well as in interviews on BBC Radio Somerset and 10 Radio.

Regretfully and following the Executive and full council decisions, new charges that are to be introduced throughout Somerset in October 2025 are:

• Daily (8am – 6pm) charges of £2 in 39 free car parks, including Croft Way and North Street in Wiveliscombe and Fore Street in Milverton.
• Charges on Sundays in all council car parks.
• More charging in on-street parking bays in larger towns, which does not include Wiveliscombe.

A proposed evening and over-night charge has been dropped.

It is claimed this will result in a consistent approach to parking charges across Somerset, which avoids free parking being subsidised by those living in other areas. Additional income is also anticipated which it is estimated will raise about £1.5m per year for Somerset Council.

Consultation is to be undertaken, with details still to be confirmed. This now looks the best opportunity to raise and address problems that will result, although the budget commitment to the income could prove a barrier. The committee report says the “consultation provides an opportunity to address any concerns from business and residents”. We will see if this consultation proves to be meaningful.

Implementation costs are estimated at £250,000, which is to cover resurfacing, white lining, new signage and pay and display machines where needed. It is aimed to allow payment by cash, card or phone.

Additional staffing costs to implement and enforce the new charges are expected to be £236,400 per year, although there may be additional traffic wardens too who tend to be largely self-funding. Wardens do not have incentives to achieve targets or fine more drivers. They are only required to apply parking restrictions fairly to all. Fines can be challenged or appealed if needed.

Impacts and reducing problems

The Equalities Impact Assessment that accompanied the decision report was woeful. It suggested there would be no impact related to age, disability or rurality, and only said that “for some drivers there maybe a negative impact [from charges] where parking is currently free”. The council assessment also said: “public transport with bus fare caps remain as a cost effective option”. Buses are an option for some but are far from meeting the travel needs of all.

Oddly, the assessment said impacts would “be reconsidered as policy changes are proposed”. This doesn’t make much sense and seems wrong, as the assessment was accompanying a report that proposed policy changes and has lead to a council decision to introduce new charges!

The report to the scrutiny committee and executive contained nothing on economic impacts for shops and town centres. Many customers use the car parks but there was no assessment on whether their use may change.

In Wiveliscombe, both Croft Way and North Street car parks serve both nearby residents and the town centre including the shops. Both uses are important and need to be allowed to effectively continue.

There are more than 100 small houses and flats around the town centre without home parking. The only sensible parking options for most are the town’s two car parks. It can be seen that many using both car parks are local residents, including between 8am and 6pm.

It is inevitable that new parking charges will lead to many of the nearby residents looking to park at other locations, especially where allowed on-street. It is likely this would lead to more parking along Croft Way and North Street. It could lead to more parking too in Richard Beadon Close, Silver Street, South Street, West Street and West Road, and maybe in other nearby roads such as Market Place and Spring Gardens. There is little extra capacity for parking on any of these streets, and there are conflicts that already arise from the extensive parking that occurs on these roads, as well as in The Square at the centre of the town. These problems are likely to be made worse.

Residents may still use the car parks if affordable permits are available. However, permit costs are high in other Somerset towns. Permits cost £165 for 6 months or £220 per year in Dulverton, £300 for 6 months (£600 per year) in Wellington, and £770 for 6 months (£1,540 per year) in Taunton.

Another big issue is whether parking for shoppers will be made more difficult or easier due to less residential parking in the car parks. There could be a positive effect with more spaces available in car parks for those visiting to shop. Negative impacts could arise with more congestion from additional on-street parking around the town centre, and from new charges leading to shoppers going elsewhere where parking is free.

Shoppers would be encouraged to use the car parks by having free time-restricted spaces available or, less effectively, by lower parking charges for short stays, as in Dulverton (90p for up to an hour), Wellington (90p or £1.20 for up to an hour) and Taunton (£1.30, £1.40 or £1.60 for up to an hour).

Further concerns in Wiveliscombe are:

• Wivey Link vehicles use Croft Way car park and have previously been unable to find alternative parking. The charity provides community transport for those without access to public or private transport and people who are sick or disabled, which will incur additional costs due to the parking charges. This imposition comes after Somerset Council withdrew grant funding for Wivey Link and other charities around Somerset.
• Drivers avoiding the fees in Croft Way car park by mis-using the car park for the surgery and nursery opposite. This already occurs and can cause problems for those allowed or needing to park at the surgery or nursery.
• More parents parking along North Street to drop off and collect their children at the primary school, instead of using the car park.

In Milverton, the small car park is mostly used by nearby residents. There are similar concerns to those in Wiveliscombe from cars being displaced to park on-street, where it would add to current congestion and potential parking conflicts. In addition, there are doubts on whether the income taken would cover the costs of the equipment and visits needed to collect the parking fees. Instead of raising an income for Somerset Council, charging in Milverton could be a net cost incurred by the council for no benefit.

Your concerns and ideas

I will be collecting evidence to contribute to the consultation on the parking charges in Wiveliscombe. A group are also doing so in Milverton and Wiveliscombe Town Council has set-up a working group. Please let me know how parking charges would impact you and if you have thoughts on how to reduce the negative impacts. Email me at: davem@wiveygp.org.uk