Council may end free parking to help balance books

North Somerset Council will vote on parking charges for many of the free car parks in Portishead, Clevedon and Nailsea on 17 October

Free parking in some North Somerset car parks could soon be scrapped.

North Somerset Council will vote on parking charges for many of the free car parks in Portishead, Clevedon and Nailsea on 17 October, as the local authority seeks to balance its books and avoid issuing a Section 114 notice.

If approved, charges could go live in eight car parks, including Portishead’s Roath Road car park and Clevedon’s Marson Road, in February, charging drivers from £3.50 to £9 for parking all day.

Councillor Mark Canniford said: "This is vital if we are to balance our books and safeguard essential council services."

“Without sign of incoming government support, it instead comes down to us to make difficult decisions and take urgent action," the council's executive member for spacial planning, place-making and economy, added.

'Financial pressures'

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, charging for parking in Portishead, Clevedon, and Nailsea has been controversial since it was first proposed as part of North Somerset Council’s budget.

Mr Canniford said the council's financial pressures have "only worsened" since the parking proposals went to consultation in February 2024 and the new charges would allow the council "to deliver an improved parking service, whilst freeing up crucial funds that can go back into the council’s overall budget".

North Somerset Council owns 44 car parks across the district and currently charges in 17. The plans would see charges introduced in eight more.

It is estimated the parking charges, which will be in place from 09:00 to 18:00 BST Monday to Saturday, will bring in just over £1m a year for the local authority, but more than half will be spent on upkeep and paying back the borrowing costs of introducing the charges.

A report on the plans set to go before the meeting stated car parks had been divided into different categories to be priced differently, with lower charges in retail areas to support local businesses.

Not all car parks will have parking charges introduced, with Portishead’s Avon Way (West Hill), Kilkenny Fields (picnic grounds) and Nore Road cark parks; Clevedon’s Coleridge Vale and Layde Bay car parks and Nailsea’s Clevedon Road car park remaining free to use.

If approved, the plans will still be required to go through another public consultation, set to last for three weeks.