CONTROVERSIAL Somerset Council plans to expand car parking charges across the county face delays.

The council still intends to start Sunday car park charges in the autumn despite not yet holding a promised public consultation on the idea.

However, it has not set a timeline to introduce charges for on-street parking and previously free car parks, with engagement with town and parish councils set to begin ‘toward the latter part of the year’.

Somerset Cllr Bob Filmer said: “This confirms what many feared, new parking charges are on their way, but the process is behind schedule, under-resourced, and lacking in transparency.

“These decisions will have real economic consequences for town centres, and the public must be properly consulted before anything is imposed.”