CONSERVATIVES in Wellington have welcomed a Somerset Council decision to back down over an unpopular move to introduce Sunday charges in the town’s three public car parks.

The Liberal Democrat-run council had been planning to bring in the charges as part of a new county-wide policy from next April.

But more than 93 per cent of people who responded to the council’s public consultation on the proposal were against it.

The authority has now dropped it for the time being while it reviews all aspects of car parking.

The council’s Conservative group transport spokesman Cllr Bob Filmer said: “I am pleased the executive backed down.

“This was an ill thought out idea, and the strength of opposition made that clear.

“Local businesses, residents, and even some Liberal Democrat councillors raised concerns, yet the administration pushed ahead until the very last moment.

“The scrutiny committee recommended the plan should be scrapped, but instead the executive have decided to kick the decision down the road.

“The good news is these charges are not coming in now, but the council will have to revisit this next year.”

Cllr Filmer said Conservatives in Wellington and across the county would continue to challenge decisions which risked harming already pressured town centres and would support residents and businesses throughout any further review.

The unitary council, which is battling to avoid becoming bankrupt, wanted the Sunday charges brought in to raise an estimated £730,000 to help fill a projected £101 million budget gap next year.

It argued that consistency was needed with charges in its 200-plus car parks across Somerset instead of motorists paying different amounts in different communities.

Somerset executive Cllr Richard Wilkins said a county-wide parking policy principles document would now be developed by January with a view to looking at charges again during next year.