Sunday parking charges 'disappointing' for business

Tim Mander says he is disappointed at the new charges

Sunday parking charges should be "equitable" despite fears by some politicians that introducing them could harm independent businesses.

Somerset Council is consulting on introducing the Sunday charges in towns including Taunton, Bridgwater and Yeovil, bringing them in-line with areas which already charge a fee.

However, businesses say the introduction of new parking charges in the towns could impact footfall and staffing.

Orchard shopping centre manager Rob Moore believes the new charges will impact shoppers, visitors and even staff if they go ahead.

Rob Moore is worried about staff and shoppers

There are some areas of Somerset, which are mostly coastal or rural, which already charge people to park on Sundays, with the council proposing urban centres are brought into line.

The Orchard shopping centre in Taunton benefits from a council-managed car park in the building, but manager Rob Moore said bringing the new Sunday charge will impact businesses and hit the pockets of the staff working there.

"It's going to impact on our footfall because obviously people will then go and shop out in the retail parks on the outskirts of Taunton which is definitely not helpful to support in retail within the town centre.

"There's a lot of students that work on a Saturday and Sunday in our businesses," he said, adding the bus service is also patchy at weekends.

Councillor Richard Wilkins wants charges to be equitable

In Bridgwater, Councillor Mander said the town council was "disappointed" in the proposals, echoing concerns families may be put off going into the town and instead using other services.

He said: "The prospect now of potentially charging people might be off putting to family groups who want to come here from outside or from the outer parts of the town who need to drive to the location, and now we're faced potentially with an additional cost."

Somerset Council's lead member for transport Richard Wilkins said the unitary authority inherited a "hodge-podge" of parking rules, and was now looking at "bringing in a more equitable way of doing things... across the county."