COUNCIL chiefs are to look again at moves to introduce parking meters in Weston-super-Mare town centre after the charges were deemed too expensive.
The cash-strapped authority, tasked with saving £47 million over four years, approved plans to introduce parking meters on 28 streets in the town centre last month.
The move would see people paying 40 pence for every 20 minutes they park and then 20 pence for each subsequent 10 minute period with a maximum two-hour stay.
But opposition councillors branded the scheme – which could see people paying £8.40 a day to park outside their own homes – ludicrous and called for the decision to go before the authority's strategic planning and economic development (SPED) scrutiny panel.
SPED has now recommended that the authority look again at the proposed charges for on street parking on the basis it is too costly.
Council officers will now review the charging policy and report back to the next executive meeting in June.
North Somerset executive member for highways, Councillor Elfan Ap Rees, said: "The panel has asked us to reconsider the pricing structure to see if we can introduce a sliding scale so the people parking only for a short time do not pay so much.
"Some members of the panel thought the current charges were too high.
"However we have pointed out that the figures currently proposed are on a break-even basis.
"If we reduce the charges, then it may be that scheme has to be subsidised by the taxpayer which we believe is unfair.
"The cost of parking should be covered by the motorist, not the taxpayer."
Council chiefs say the move to introduce the parking meters is necessary to regulate parking in the town and follows concerns from traders, shoppers and residents that motorists are flouting existing parking restrictions by leaving cars in timed bays for longer than allowed.
Charging for on street parking would allow the authority to employ a team of parking attendants who would enforce the new regulations.
Police would still be responsible for ticketing people parking illegally on double yellow lines or for anyone causing an obstruction.
The cost of parking in the town's car parks will also be reduced to £1 an hour for the first three hours in an attempt to encourage people to use them.
Mr Ap Rees added: "If we reduce the short-term cost of on street parking to £1 for the first hour then the next stage up may have to cost more.
"I have asked officers to look again at the charges to see if there are any alternatives.
"The whole aim of introducing on street parking charges is to free up spaces in the town centre at the same time as making it cheaper to park in the town's car parks.
"We had hoped to introduce the scheme in September but because of the review, this may now be delayed.
"Local businesses are very keen to see these measures introduced and the delay will have a knock-on effect on them."
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