A legal showdown is imminent over the introduction of paid parking in Clevedon’s town centre, stirring tensions between local authorities and the business community. On June 1, North Somerset Council implemented parking charges at Marson Road and Great Western Road East and West car parks—a move that has sparked fierce opposition.
Daniel Adams, owner of Stationery House on the Triangle, has launched a self-funded statutory review to challenge the council’s decision. “This challenge is not about whether parking charges are inherently good or bad,” Adams explains. “It’s about ensuring that the council follows a fair and lawful decision-making process that impacts residents, businesses, and visitors alike.”
Earlier, plans to introduce on-street parking fees in Hill Road and surrounding areas were withdrawn after Clevedon Town Council threatened legal action. Council leader Mike Bell criticized any potential court case between the two councils as “a scandalous waste of public money.” Despite this, North Somerset Council is prepared to contest Adams’s challenge and has indicated it will seek to recover costs if it prevails.
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A council spokesperson confirmed the legal challenge regarding the traffic regulation order for Clevedon car parks is set to be heard at the Bristol Civil Justice Centre on June 26. “The court will review submitted evidence from both sides and determine the case’s direction. The council will abide by the court’s decision,” the spokesperson added.
Adams expressed shock that the council proceeded to install ticket machines and begin charging before the statutory review’s outcome. The council responded that the machines could be repurposed if the challenge succeeds.
The decision to impose parking charges came after a 2024 council vote affecting Clevedon, Nailsea, and Portishead—intended, the council says, to promote fairness since Weston-super-Mare already enforced such charges. However, councillors from the other towns have cautioned that their local circumstances differ significantly. In Nailsea, businesses report losing roughly a third of foot traffic since fees were introduced.
Warning against repeating the same mistake, Adams stated, “Nailsea’s experience reveals the damaging impact on town centre vitality, including reduced footfall and falling turnover. Introducing parking charges prematurely, before legal reviews conclude, is reckless and economically shortsighted—especially when high streets are already struggling.”
Currently, parking costs £1 for one hour at the designated car parks, escalating to £1.50 for two hours, £2.50 for three, and reaching £3.50 for all-day parking at Great Western Road. Fees are enforced between 9am and 6pm, Monday through Saturday.
The High Court hearing scheduled for June 26 at Bristol Civil Justice Centre will ultimately decide the fate of these charges.