AN online petition against Somerset Council’s plans for 24-hour, seven days a week car parking charges has seen more than 1,200 people sign up in its first four days.

The Liberal Democrat-run council has been trying to avoid being made bankrupt with a £66 million budget gap this year on top of last year’s £100 million financial black hole.

It is proposing to introduce overnight and Sunday fees in all its 200-plus car parks across the county that do not already charge them, saying it would bring ‘consistency’ for different communities.

Petition founder Susie Thomas said: “The proposals have not been thought through.

“They are being rushed through under cover of financial emergency and budget setting with inadequate debate and scrutiny.

“There has been no prior consultation with businesses, towns, parishes or residents and no assessment of the socio-economic impact on different localities.

“The charging proposals offer no specific improvements to parking facilities in exchange.

“We call on the executive of Somerset Council to reject the proposals and instead commit to a proper and meaningful public consultation on options for improving parking facilities across Somerset that takes better account of the needs of residents, businesses, towns, and rural areas alike.”

Ms Thomas said there was a real risk the measures would cause ‘unwitting’ cultural and economic damage to communities because the charges would put people off visiting town centres to shop, eat, and use leisure and entertainment facilities, while causing on-street parking chaos.

The council’s opposition Conservative group has also started a petition against the principle of the proposed new parking charges.

A group spokesperson said: “We believe this is an unfair extra cost for residents at a time when the council is already inflicting an inflation-busting 7.5 per cent tax hike, the biggest rise in decades.

“It will be damaging to local shops and our already-struggling high streets and will particularly impact the vital tourism, leisure, and hospitality sector businesses across Somerset.”

A call has also been made for the council to excuse car parks in Wiveliscombe and Milverton from the new charging structure, or at least to defer the introduction of the fees.

It came jointly from the council’s Green group leader Cllr Dave Mansell, who lives in Wiveliscombe, and Independent Cllr Gwil Wren, of Milverton.

They said in a statement: “Currently, the charges are included in budget proposals and the income will then need to be achieved, despite conclusions of consultation that follows.”

Councillors were briefed on the proposals on Thursday (February 20) when they were able to ask detailed questions.

Cllr Mansell said: “Due consideration has not yet been given to knock-on problems that will arise from parking elsewhere to avoid the new fees, or the impacts that could result for local shops and our communities from adding to existing parking problems.

“Our shops could also suffer from more shopping being done elsewhere where parking is still free.

“Gwil and I have already strongly raised our concerns and will continue to do so as the proposals are now debated at Somerset Council.”