Clevedon Traders and Councillors Oppose Proposed On-Street Parking Charges
North Somerset council has proposed introducing on-street parking charges on Hill Road and surrounding streets in Clevedon. The proposed tariff would allow 30 minutes free parking, followed by charges of £1.50 for one hour, £2.50 for two hours, and £3 for a maximum three-hour stay, operating from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday. Currently, Hill Road offers two hours of free parking.
The proposal has met significant opposition from local traders and the town council. Traders fear that the charges will deter footfall, potentially reducing trade and threatening their livelihoods. A petition against the proposed parking charges has gathered more than 3,300 signatures. There are concerns that drivers will instead opt to park at the nearby Cribbs Causeway out-of-town centre, which offers free parking, or choose to shop online, both outcomes likely to hurt Clevedon's independent businesses. Clevedon town council is vehemently opposed to the plans, with chair Chris Blades noting that the council is considering potential legal action and has involved solicitors through the business improvement district.
In contrast, North Somerset council points to the example of Nailsea, where similar parking charges introduced have resulted in over 36,000 parking tickets sold and a rise in car park use month on month. The council emphasizes that the tariff proposed for Hill Road would be lower than elsewhere and highlights its public engagement efforts. It frames parking charges as a means to fund well-managed facilities, support local economies, and potentially self-fund or create a surplus for reinvestment in parking and transport infrastructure.
Hill Road's limited on-street parking space, affected by the street's slope, is a factor in the council's policy planning. The issue remains a point of contention between the council, traders, and the community.
