TRADERS in Midsomer Norton and Radstock have formed a new association to help them fight proposed parking charges in the area.

B&NES Council announced it would be bringing in new parking charges based on vehicle emissions to reduce pollution back in July.

Local businesspeople fear this could drive more people away from the town, therefore resulting in a drop in trade.

They have since formed the Radstock and Midsomer Norton Traders Association, boasting 51 members, which aims to give shopkeepers a voice and protect their interests in both Radstock and Midsomer Norton.

The association is calling for a pause on the proposed emission-based parking charges in areas between 300ft and 700ft above sea level.

The group is asking for a thorough review before the charges go ahead, insisting that no detailed surveys have been carried out to understand how the changes might impact the community socially, environmentally, or economically.

Sean Dudden, who runs Dustland Fairytale Antiques in Midsomer Norton, who compiled a petition with thousands of signatures against the plan, said: “We are not Bath; we are Midsomer Norton. One of my many concerns is that no traffic surveys or impact surveys on shop owners have been conducted, nor has there been a survey on the impact on the general community. These out-of-touch charges will wreck the town.”

The association is also calling for financial compensation for businesses on The Island which ‘have lost income due to ongoing building works.’ They believe this support should have been planned from the beginning of the project to help businesses manage the impact of the development.

There have also been questions about the council's spending priorities, with some saying that smaller local projects have struggled to secure funding, while larger initiatives, such as those behind new public toilets and a water fountain, have received more financial backing.

Many members of the public are against the introduction of parking charges and the petition, backed by Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, amassed 5,600 signatures. With strong local support the traders association hopes this will draw the council's attention to local feeling and slow down proceedings and potentially halt it all together.

As the Radstock and Midsomer Norton Traders Association pushes for the needs of their members and the local community, they remain ‘hopeful’ that B&NES Council will take concerns seriously. The group is hoping to have open conversations to find solutions that work for local businesses while still meeting the council's objectives.