Free parking in Somerset during the evenings and weekends could be scrapped as part of the unitary council's budget proposals.

Somerset Council has published proposals to update its car parking charges, intended to harmonise the amount people pay across the county.

The proposals – which could come into force in the autumn – will see car parking charges being extended beyond 6pm on weekdays, coming into force all day on Sundays, and scrapping free parking where it is currently available in certain towns and villages.

The plans have been criticised by the opposition Conservative group, which has argued it will hurt Somerset's economy and put further pressure on household budgets.

The ruling Liberal Democrat administration has argued the changes are essential to ensuring parking charges were fair across Somerset and that the service could be adequately maintained.

Upon its creation in April 2023, Somerset Council inherited a multitude of different charging rates from the four district councils and Somerset County Council, covering around 200 council-run car parks and a swathe of on-street locations.

These systems have not been reviewed since the new council was created, resulting in ongoing disparities in charges being levied against motorists.

Four key changes are being proposed, which would take effect from October 1:

• Implementing a Somerset-wide £1 overnight car parking charge (which could raise £100,000 in the first six months)
• Implementing Sunday parking charges (£162,000)
• Introducing charges of £2 per day into car parks which are currently free (£175,000)
• Introducing on-street charging to limited waiting bays – with 20 minutes being free, followed by £1 per hour and a daily rate of £3 (£225,000)

In order to ensure these changes are successfully implemented, the council predicts it will have to spend nearly £198,000 on enforcement and maintenance between October 2025 and the end of the 2025/26 financial year.

This will also "provide resources for the exploration of other initiatives that cannot currently be progressed" – such as charging all year round at Burnham-on-Sea seafront, new residential permit areas, and using automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) to aid with enforcement.

Even with the additional enforcement cost, the increase in charges is expected to raise more than £464,000 in additional income, which can be used to fund other front-line services.

Based upon current trends and population growth, the council anticipates this additional income will rise to just under £1.1m in 2026/27 and around £1.8m in 2027/28.

Cllr Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste services, said: "We have many car parks in Somerset and there are significant costs and challenges involved in running and maintaining them.

"It's really important we bring fairness and uniformity in charges across the county, and in turn the extra income will help ensure the parking service is fully self-financed and can continue to be run, staffed and maintained properly."

Where local car parks are currently free (such as in Castle Cary or Somerton), the local town or parish council could use part of its council tax precept to offset this cost and keep the area 'free' for local residents and visitors.

The Conservative opposition group on Somerset Council has launched a petition against the planned charges, arguing that they represent a further hit on Somerset businesses.

A spokesman said: "We believe that this is an unfair extra cost for residents at a time when the council is already inflicting an inflation-busting 7.5 per cent tax hike – the biggest rise in decades.

"It will be damaging to local shops and our already-struggling high streets – and will particularly impact the vital tourism, leisure and hospitality sector businesses across Somerset.

"We ask that Somerset Council reconsider this policy and remove these punitive changes from the 2025/26 budget proposal."

The proposals will be discussed in detail by the council's corporate and resources scrutiny committee when it meets in Taunton on Monday (February 24) at 1pm, before coming before the executive committee two days later.

If the executive approves the proposals, they will go out to formal public consultation, with the final changes being implemented from October 1.

The council will set its annual budget in Bridgwater on March 5, which will include a breakdown of any other fees or charges which will be raised.

To sign the Conservatives' petition, click here.