Anti-car parking charges petition reaches more than 4,000 signatures

SOMERSET Conservatives have submitted a petition signed by 4,177 residents calling on Somerset Council to rethink its proposals ton increase car parking charges and to introduce Sunday fees.

The ‘Stop the Parking Hike’ petition was sent to the council by leader of the Conservative opposition group, Cllr Diogo Rodrigues.

The campaign passed 2,000 signatures on September 17 and has since more than doubled in size.

The petition calls on the Liberal Democrat administration to keep Sunday parking free in council-owned car parks in towns where currently Sunday charges do not apply.

They are also asking the council to reconsider proposed increases to existing parking tariffs, particularly where the new tier system would result in substantial increases for residents, workers, and visitors, and calling for the council to keep free council car parks free of charge rather than progressing proposals to introduce new charges including not introducing new on-street parking charges without the support of the affected local community and businesses.

Cllr Rodrigues said: “The Liberal Democrats allocated £272,824 to consultants for this parking review and now want residents to pay more to park.

“Families and local businesses should not be made to pay for the council’s financial mismanagement.

“People are worried about what higher parking charges will mean for their household budgets, local shops and our town and village centres.

“We have submitted their signatures to the council, and we will keep collecting them until a decision is taken."

Somerset Conservatives’ opposition spokesman for transport, Cllr Bob Filmer, said: “These proposals would make it more expensive to visit towns and villages across Somerset.

“The council needs to take seriously the strength of feeling from the thousands of people who have signed and reconsider the impact on our high streets.”