On Behalf of Residents across Tiverton and Minehead
Dear Somerset Council,
I strongly oppose the proposed changes to car parking charges across Somerset. These changes would introduce additional costs for residents, businesses, and visitors, your changes which include:
- Charging for parking on Sundays across the county.
- Extending paid parking hours beyond 6 pm.
- Imposing charges on currently free on-street parking locations.
- Introducing charges in villages that have historically offered free parking.
- Year-round charges in areas such as Burnham-on-Sea.
At a time when Somerset residents are already facing a 7.5% council tax rise—the largest in decades these changes to parking charges will place an unfair financial burden on hardworking families and local businesses.
These policies will harm our high streets, discourage footfall for small businesses, and negatively impact Somerset’s vital tourism, leisure, and hospitality industries. Local shops and cafes, already struggling in the current economic climate, cannot afford further barriers to customers visiting town centres.
I urge Somerset Council to reconsider these punitive measures and remove these parking charge increases from the 2025/26 budget proposal.
Kind regards
James Wright
