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Ilminster Faces Economic Risk as Free Parking Plans Spark Concern

Ilminster is at the centre of a heated debate as Somerset Council’s plans to introduce parking charges threaten to impact the town’s economic health. The council, led by the Liberal Democrats, aims to impose fees on currently free on-street parking bays and introduce Sunday charges in various council-managed car parks, including Ilminster’s Orchard Vale, Shudrick Lane, and West Street car parks.

Conservative councillor Sue Osborne has raised serious concerns, warning that removing free short-stay parking could undermine the convenience that draws shoppers, appointment-goers, and coffee seekers into the town centre. Osborne emphasized that while Ilminster has historically lacked large free public car parks, its limited free on-street parking and a Tesco car park with reduced free hours are vital lifelines for local businesses.

“These changes are being pitched as ‘harmonisation’, but in truth, they shift additional costs onto residents and small businesses,” Osborne said. She is urging Somerset Council to exclude Ilminster from future on-street charging phases and encourages community members to participate actively in the upcoming consultation.

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On the other hand, Councillor Richard Wilkins, the council’s transport and waste services lead, assured that all proposed changes would undergo thorough consultation. He highlighted the plan to maintain a 30-minute free parking window to boost turnover and support local commerce. Wilkins distanced the current administration from past policies that saw parking assets handed over to private operators, ensuring council control over pricing and usage remains intact.

The formal consultation is expected to launch this summer, with changes possibly coming into effect by October 2025. As Ilminster waits, the community’s response could be pivotal in shaping the town’s parking future and, by extension, its economic vitality.

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