Public opposition has led to changes in the parking plans for Midsomer Norton and Radstock, as the initial proposal to end free parking and charge motorbikes and scooters has been scrapped due to community feedback.
Bath and North East Somerset Council’s initial plan to roll out emissions-based parking charges in the free car parks of Midsomer Norton and Radstock, along with implementing parking fees for motorbikes, faced strong resistance from local residents. Councillor Shaun Hughes from Midsomer Norton North, Independent, labeled the charges as “a tax on the poor” and expressed concerns that it would “kill the town.”
Following the public outcry, the council has revised its plans. The charges will now come into effect in January 2025, with adjustments made based on the feedback received. The revised plan includes lower charges for the currently free car parks in Midsomer Norton and Radstock, offering two hours of free parking. Additionally, the proposed charges for parking motorbikes have been completely dropped, although there are plans to reassess this through a separate consultation in the future.
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While emissions-based charges and price increases in council-owned car parks in Bath, Keynsham, and Saltford are set to roll out throughout November, the introduction of on-street paid parking locations in Bath is scheduled for January 2025.
Manda Rigby, the council’s cabinet member for highways, acknowledged the valuable input received during the consultation process, stating, “We’ve had great feedback from our consultation, and I’d like to thank all those that took the time to share their views with us. We’ve listened and made changes to what was originally put forward and will now introduce two hours free parking in Midsomer Norton and Radstock car parks with a reduced tariff for longer stays.”
Despite the changes, some concerns remain. Councillor Hughes criticized the council for not fully addressing the public’s opposition, emphasizing that over 4,000 responses and two signed petitions expressed strong disapproval of the parking changes.
The council’s consultation on the parking charges garnered 4,322 responses and two signed petitions. The majority of respondents, 80%, opposed the rollout of emissions-based parking charges to all council-paid parking, with even higher levels of opposition for the introduction of charges in the free car parks of Midsomer Norton and Radstock.
Other concerns expressed included the impact of air quality on health, with 77% of respondents expressing concerns and 58% emphasizing the importance of addressing and improving air quality. Manda Rigby highlighted the council’s commitment to improving air quality and reducing congestion, stating, “Air quality in Bath and North East Somerset is improving, we know it’s a concern for people living here and the changes we’re making to parking charges is another step to improve further.”