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Open for seven weeks, the consultation asks about proposed parking charges being considered for car parks and on-street locations in Portishead, Nailsea and Clevedon. It also asks about plans for a new short-stay parking permit. It is hoped the short-stay permit would promote local shopping and benefit business and the economy.
Consultation feedback will be used to help the council understand how people park now and what parking charge prices, locations and hours of operation could look like. It will also help set the terms of any annual short-stay permit.
Councillor Hannah Young, Executive Member for Highways and Transport at North Somerset Council, said “We know that people have lots of different views on these proposals, so whether you are a resident, a visitor, business or anyone else who parks in these areas, it’s important we hear from you.
“At the end of the consultation period, we’ll analyse your feedback and use it to help shape the detail of the parking proposals. North Somerset Council’s Executive will then consider whether to take the proposals further later in the year.
“We understand that these proposals ask something extra of residents when they are facing financial pressures and feeling the squeeze. Like all councils across the country, North Somerset Council is facing unprecedented demand for services at a time of rising costs so has to make financial savings to cover a £50 million funding gap over the four years to 2028. It’s in response to these same financial pressures that many local authorities, including neighbours in Somerset and Bath & North East Somerset, have introduced parking charges.
“It is hoped that the parking charges could help cover the council’s costs of funding the maintenance and operation of our car parks, along with improved enforcement of on-street parking restrictions. We also hope that they can encourage more people to make shorter journeys sustainably, travelling by bike or on foot.
“Consultation is open until midday Tuesday 7 May 2024 and we are holding drop-in information events over the coming weeks, so please do get involved and tell us what you think.”
To take part in our consultation, access our online questionnaire at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/getinvolved. Using the same link, you can also find out where paper questionnaires are available and when drop-in events take place.
Consultation responses will only be considered if they are received using our public consultation questionnaire.