TWO political parties have spoken out about the proposed parking charges in Midsomer Norton and Radstock.

Green Party and Labour Party members for Bath and North East Somerset, in separate statements, have confirmed their opposition to the council’s decision to introduce parking charges to the areas.

The comments were made during the parking charge review consultation period, where B&NES Council sought opinions on the introduction of emission-based parking charges to all council-managed paid-for parking areas in B&NES. The consultation ran from July 11 and closed on August 8.

The Green Party for Bath and North East Somerset, despite supporting the council’s initiative to introduce emission-based parking charges in Bath to improve air quality and promote sustainable transport, are opposing the charges being introduced to North East Somerset.

Sam Ross, Green Councillor for Clutton and Farmborough, commented: "Where is the baseline evidence on the current levels of pollution in Midsomer Norton and Radstock? How will implementing car parking charges be considered a success?

"Residents in rural areas are already paying disproportionately for car parking charges to access vital services that they have no other way of accessing due to the defunding of public transport and the impossibility of active travel over large geographical areas and challenging topography.

"Emissions-based charges in these market towns will simply make life more difficult and expensive for the most financially vulnerable at this time, as they have no other option but to rely on car use while public transport is in disarray and they do not have the means to purchase a more fuel-efficient/EV car.”

The Greens also say that introducing charges could harm businesses and negatively impact local communities, citing that many residents are struggling financially and local businesses are “already on the brink”.

The claims about families struggling to make ends meet were echoed by the Bath and North East Somerset Labour Councillors. Both groups mentioned data from B&NES that shows 17% of children in Twerton, 14% in Radstock and Keynsham South, 13% in Westfield, and 12% in Peasedown come from low-income families.

The Labour group “strongly advise” that Lib Dem leadership rethinks this money-raiser.

Labour’s Robin Moss (Westfield), said: “In these small rural towns, our friends and neighbours have no choice but to use a car or motorbike. I’ve reminded the Lib Dem Leader that, although they’re too often hidden from the sight of tourists and people in central Bath, poverty and hunger haunt our district.

“Families don’t have spare cash for new costs, an electric vehicle is a far-off luxury, and in some places, there’s not even a bus a week into Bath any more.

“We will work with the council to support them to find alternative ways to raise revenue,” says Cllr Moss. “But we strongly advise them to review this plan – the risk of unintended consequences is high, we need thriving high streets with all the economic benefits they bring.”

B&NES Council say they will review the support and objections to the consultation before making the final decision to implement it as council policy.