North Somerset Council is standing firm on its new parking charges in Clevedon despite an ongoing High Court challenge that questions the legality of their consultation process.
The dispute arose after a local businessman, Daniel Adams, initiated a statutory review. He argued that the council issued an incorrect reference number during its consultation period regarding parking fees for three town centre car parks. These charges, effective since July 1, continued despite the court hearing scheduled later that month.
Mark Canniford, the council member responsible for parking matters, expressed confidence, stating, “We do not feel we will lose the case.” He responded to Conservative councillor Michael Pryke’s concerns over why charges proceeded ahead of a pending court decision. While the hearing took place, the judgment is expected to be delivered in writing later, potentially months away.
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Canniford explained that council advice supported their decision to implement charges and reassured that any equipment purchased would be reused if the case were lost, eliminating additional costs. When asked if charges would cease immediately should the council lose and if fines already incurred might be refunded, Canniford replied that further legal advice would be sought.
The council’s 2024 decision to introduce parking fees extended to Clevedon, Nailsea, and Portishead. However, some local voices, like Conservative councillor Luke Smith, claim the charges are “largely failing,” citing closures and empty car parks since implementation. Contrastingly, Canniford noted the positive feedback from some residents who view the charges as good value.
Highlighting the legal flaw, Adams pointed out that his objections were mistakenly recorded under a different consultation due to the wrong reference number, a mistake acknowledged by the council’s barrister, Timothy Baldwin. Baldwin admitted the administrative error but insisted the council complied with regulations overall.
This is not the first time the council has faced pushback over parking fees. Plans for on-street charges in Hill Road were dropped after threats of legal action from Clevedon Town Council. Council leader Mike Bell criticized potential court battles between councils as “a scandalous waste of public money.”
As the community awaits the court’s verdict, the issue underlines the tensions between local governance, legal obligations, and public response to new parking policies.