Parking Fees Introduced in Radstock and Midsomer Norton This Week

New parking fees start this week in two towns. Radstock and Midsomer Norton will have charges. These fees affect Church Street and Waterloo Road. South Road car park will also have fees. The new fees started on Tuesday, March 4.

The council calls these “emissions-based” charges. Cars that pollute more will pay more. People in the area worry about these fees. A shop owner fears they will hurt the town.

Emissions-based charging is not new. Bath has used it since September 2023. It applies “polluter pays” idea. Some locals think it is unfair here. They say there is no air quality issue. They also need cars to get around.

Parking for three hours costs £1.20 to £1.80. The cost depends on how much your car pollutes. You do not need emission details. The machines check the DVLA for this data. They charge based on carbon emitted or engine size.

The council planned improvements to the car parks. CCTV and lighting were planned using parking funds. They delayed these improvements a year. This saves £210,000 for the next budget year.

A councillor asked to restore the funding. He mentioned safety concerns in council reports. Delaying investment could harm the economy. It might reduce trade and foot traffic.

His proposal to restore the fund did not pass. Another councillor said it created budget risks. The improvements might still happen later. The vote failed 36 to 15.

The councillor felt they delayed things again. He said safety is a growing concern. He called for a quick solution. He wants a proactive approach.