A council finance chief has hinted that controversial new parking charges planned for Midsomer Norton and Radstock could be scrapped.
Residents, businesses and councillors from across the political divide have spoken out against the fees, expected to add £20,000 to Bath and North East Somerset Council’s coffers in 2022/23.
Deputy leader Richard Samuel said the proposal was put out to “gauge public reaction” and nothing will be decided by cabinet members until they meet on 10th February.
They are rumoured to have been staging a photoshoot at Midsomer Norton’s South Street car park, one of the sites where new fees were mooted.
Mr Samuel was responding to comments from Midsomer Norton North independent councillor Shaun Hughes, who said: “In rural and semi-rural areas the car is quite often the only viable option. It’s a necessity, not a luxury and a lot of people use cars to get to work because there is no other viable option for them.
“We’re seeing increases in running costs and living costs. This is a burden on some of our lowest paid workers.
“The regeneration of our high street is at a probably quite a volatile stage and we have this climate emergency ambition to encourage more use of local facilities.
“This will cause more harm than good.
“By leaving this in the budget we’re saying that the public consultation is a foregone conclusion and it’s just a box-ticking exercise.”
Speaking at the meeting, resident Katherine Howells warned of a downward spiral if the charge results in shop closures that would have a huge impact on elderly residents and those unable to get to Bath.
Traders have said the new charge would “kill the high street all together”.
Labour councillors have organised a 1,000-signature petition against, while Conservatives have suggested Bath’s planned ring of steel could be scrapped to cut costs after Mr Samuel said savings would have to be found elsewhere if the parking charges were ditched.
He told the corporate policy scrutiny panel meeting on 31st January: “Everything included in the savings proposals is draft.
“That’s the purpose of publishing a draft budget with as much detail as we can – to gauge public reaction to assess acceptability of proposals, whether they are to raise more income or cut services.
“We’re still at that stage. The decision point will be the cabinet meeting on the 10th, when the cabinet will decide what it wishes to recommend to council.”
The full council will vote on the budget on 16th February.
Stephen Sumner, Local Democracy Reporter
