Parking will cost more in Somerset Council car parks from January, but drivers who rely on cash are still waiting to learn whether new payment machines will accept coins.

The council has approved a 10 per cent increase in existing charges from January 2027, followed by a new tiered pricing system in autumn. Alongside those changes, it plans to replace outdated machines and has joined a national system allowing motorists to choose between several parking apps.

When will charges go up?

Existing council parking charges will rise by 10 per cent from January 2027, rounded to the nearest 10p. A £2 charge, for example, would become £2.20.

The council's executive approved the increase on Wednesday, 7 October. The decision concerns council parking charges and does not automatically change prices at privately operated car parks.

A wider tiered system is due to begin from autumn 2027, grouping car parks into charging categories. January's increase and the autumn changes are therefore separate stages of the review.

Will you still be able to pay with cash?

Coins remain an accepted payment method at local car parks with cash-operated machines. The council currently lists coin payments alongside apps at Princes Road in Wells, Southside in Street and Regal Road East in Shepton Mallet.

However, up to £350,000 has been allocated to replace outdated payment machines across Somerset, with work expected to begin early in the new year. The council has not confirmed whether the replacements will accept cash.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked how many machines would be installed, whether they would take coins and how drivers would be able to pay in areas with poor mobile reception.

A council spokesperson responded on Monday, 12 October: "We don't have the answers to these questions right now – it's too early in the project."

Cash payments have not been ruled out, but neither have they been guaranteed at the new machines. That leaves an important question unanswered for motorists who depend on them.

What has changed with parking apps?

Somerset has joined the National Parking Platform, a shared system connecting several payment apps to participating parking locations. The aim is to let drivers use an app they already have, rather than downloading a different one whenever they park somewhere new.

The council lists APCOA Connect, AppyParking, Caura, JustPark, PayByPhone and RingGo. Drivers enter the location code displayed at the car park and select the correct vehicle registration before paying.

There is no separate National Parking Platform app to download. The platform also does not require councils to remove machines or withdraw cash payments.

What if you cannot use an app?

For someone without a smartphone, or who struggles with digital payments, a choice of six apps may offer little reassurance. Their ability to park still depends on having another accessible way to pay.

Somerset Council lists telephone payment on 0333 200 8080, providing an alternative to using an app. But a phone service cannot meet everyone's needs, and it still requires a working connection.

The question is therefore what payment options will remain available at the car park itself. Until the specifications for the replacement machines are confirmed, drivers who rely on coins cannot be certain whether that option will continue.

What happens where there is no phone signal?

Poor reception can prevent motorists from completing an app payment or calling the telephone service. It can affect people who regularly use digital payments just as much as those who prefer cash.

The council's published parking terms say drivers remain responsible for ensuring they have paid, including when a mobile network fails. Motorists should check that payment has completed before leaving their vehicle and follow the instructions displayed at the car park.

The council has yet to explain what arrangements the machine replacement programme will provide for locations with poor reception. Its response to the LDRS leaves that practical issue unresolved.

Could paying by app cost extra?

An app payment can include a service fee on top of the parking tariff, while text confirmations and expiry reminders may carry additional charges. Drivers should check the final amount and any optional extras before confirming payment.

A Guardian investigation published on Monday found app fees increased some council parking bills elsewhere in England by up to 40 per cent. Fees vary by provider and location, so those examples do not establish what a motorist will pay in Somerset.

The National Parking Platform says providers should show any convenience or other fees before payment. Where several apps are available, motorists can compare the total being charged.

Are currently free car parks affected?

The October decision does not introduce charges at car parks that are currently free. The council plans to begin discussions about those sites with communities, businesses and local councillors from autumn 2027, with potential on-street changes considered from January 2028.

For now, drivers can budget for January's increase at existing paid-for council car parks. What remains unsettled is whether the new machines will preserve a straightforward way to pay for people who cannot use an app or get a reliable phone signal.

More local stories

• Nearly 20000 visitors flood Wells for huge food festival
• Wells museum asks residents to name faces in photo exhibition

Subscribe to the free Wells Nub News newsletter Get the biggest Wells stories straight to your inbox.