Somerset Council has announced plans to implement revised parking charges across the county. The adjustment, which aims to introduce consistency and accommodate inflationary costs, will take effect in August.

The adjustment will see an average rise of 10% in parking charges throughout Somerset. However, the exact increase might slightly deviate from this figure, as it will vary from one car park to another. The final fee will be rounded up to the nearest 10p to ensure practicality in transactions.

Alongside the changes in car parking charges, there will also be a similar percentage increase in the cost of parking season tickets. This modification was confirmed during the Council's Annual Budget Meeting.

Despite the overall increase in charges, the Council has decided to keep on-street parking permits in residential areas at their current rates as a means to alleviate the financial burden on residents.

This adjustment comes after a review by the Council highlighted a lack of uniformity in parking charges across the county. In certain locations, parking charges have remained static for several years.

The newly revised charges are designed to account for inflationary pressures and will help the Council fulfil its transport objectives without placing additional strain on its budget.

Somerset Council will soon release a comprehensive breakdown of the new charges for each location across the county.

David Carter, Somerset Council's Service Director for Infrastructure and Transport, said: "While we are always hesitant to raise charges, particularly amidst the ongoing cost of living crisis, we must offset the 10% inflation to cover our service costs. Any extra revenue will be earmarked and reinvested into achieving transport and highways objectives."