Somerset Council to spend £1,500 per car park to review parking charges
Somerset Council faces scrutiny over £272k consultant spend as £1,500-per-car-park parking review gets underway
It will cost Somerset Council nearly £1,500 per car park to decide whether to implement new parking charges across the county.
The council’s executive committee voted in March to begin a root-and-branch review of Somerset car parking charges, which could see a new ‘tiered’ pricing structure introduced for both on- and off-street parking.
A total of £272,824 has been allocated from the council’s parking reserve to pay external consultants to gather evidence about how busy every car park is, with more detailed proposals expected to come before councillors in the autumn.
Councillor Diogo Rodrigues, who leads the opposition Conservative group, questioned whether such high spending could be justified, given the council’s other payments to consultants on the ongoing transformation programme and changes to the Celebration Mile in Bridgwater.
The council said that it was important that the parking review was evidence-led, confirming it would cost around £1,500 per car park to review charges and usage levels.
Mr Rodrigues (who represents the Bridgwater East and Bawdrip division) raised the matter when the executive committee met in Taunton on April 1.
He said: “We know the council is spending up to £20m on consultants to advise on how to save money, more £200,000 on consultants to advise on how much to charge residents to park their cars, and further sums on consultants to advise on road layout changes in Bridgwater.
“Can you confirm the council’s total spend on external consultants and advisory support since April 2023, and any committed or contracted expenditure, whether already spent or yet to be spent, and provide a breakdown by directorate or service area?”
Chris Hall, the council’s executive director for community, place and economy, responded: “We committed to undertake a consultation exercise in progressing our parking policy changes.
“In order for that to be meaningful, we agreed to engage on the individual locations.
“Officers recommended a detailed review of parking usage – so it goes beyond simply parking charges.
“Approval was given to engage specialist consultants on the surveys, analysis and evidence gathering requirements to support that consultation process.
“The evidence base goes beyond how much to charge – it identifies current usage in car parks and the surrounding areas, as well as considering the implications of charging and how those might be mitigated.
“Collectively, the overall cost is in excess of £200,000 – and that equates to just under £1,500 per car park.”
The proposed tiered pricing system is intended to “encourage turnover and sustainable travel into Somerset’s towns”, being based on location and occupancy levels.
The tiers – which would apply seven days a week – will operate as follows:
Tier 1 – Premium or High Demand: central locations, with large amounts of short-stay parking and easy access to public transport
Tier 2 – Standard or Medium Demand: edge-of-course or mixed-use locations, with a mixture of short-stay and long-stay usage
Tier 3 – Value or Peripheral: out-of-town locations, with lower to moderate occupancy, geared towards longer stays
Tier 4 – Rural or Village: rural villages and small settlements, supporting local high streets, community facilities and tourism, with low to moderate demand
Tier 5 – Special Function: seasonal sites, residential or shared use locations, electric vehicle charging hubs and other custom arrangements
As an indicative example, parking for one hour in a Tier 1 car park could cost £1.90, compared to £1.50 in a Tier 2 site, £1.30 in a Tier 3 site and free in a Tier 4 site.
Speaking in March, Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste services, said: “During the last year we have been working hard to establish a system of parking fees which is more consistent across Somerset.
“We are committed to a county-wide town by town review to help us build a new charging structure for on-street and off-street parking based on what is right for towns and communities.
“We accept that not all car parks are used in the same way, so we are looking at a proposal which places them in one of five tiers depending on location and usage.
“At the moment, we still have very different charging systems depending on where you are in Somerset.
“This new approach would offer a uniform policy which is consistent, but is not a one-size fits all approach. It is aimed at encouraging turnover and sustainable travel into Somerset’s towns.
“The proposal needs to be backed up by our survey data and engagement with businesses and residents. It’s vital we get this right.
“We will confirm the tiers as well as the charging once this process is concluded, later in the year.”