Concerns Sunday parking charge would damage towns

Somerset Council proposed to introduce Sunday parking charges across the county

A church leader says implementing car parking charges on a Sunday would "irrevocably damage" town centres.

Somerset Council estimated the implementation of the charges across the county would raise £730,000 of additional funding every year.

However, councillors and Judith Butler, a Taunton church leader, warned the move would severely damage high streets and would result in fewer people shopping, eating out or attending religious services.

While the council's climate and place committee voted to recommend Sunday charges should not be implemented, a decision on the proposals will be debated by the council's executive committee in December.

A consultation on the plans was held in September and October, with almost 93% of respondents either disagreeing or strongly disagreeing.

Speaking at a council meeting on Wednesday, Ms Butler, pastor at Kingdom Faith Church in Taunton said the church often draws people from across the county, including Yeovil, Bridgwater and Chard, who not only attend the church but use the opportunity to do their shopping and have lunch in the town.

"I am hugely concerned these costs will prove prohibitive, and if they still pay and choose to attend services, it will certainly prevent them from remaining in Taunton," she said.

"I firmly believe that the knock-on effects to services, businesses and the hospitality sector will be irrevocably damaging and bring decline to the area," she added.

'Unfair competition'

Under the proposals, the existing charges at car parks on Saturdays would be carried across to Sundays.

Councillor Dave Mansell said high streets were already suffering from "unfair competition" from out-of-town retail parks, which generally benefit from some free parking.

Councillor John Cook-Woodman said if the council decides to approve the plans, people in Somerset would see it as "an anti-motorist attack by a cash-hungry council".

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, any money the council makes from on-street parking or parking permits is ring-fenced – meaning it has to be spent directly on improvements to those parking areas and related highway maintenance.

Income from off-street parking, by contrast, is not ring-fenced – meaning it can be spent on any frontline service the council provides.