Car park generates more from fines than charges

4 hours ago

Clara BullockSomerset

News image — Lucy Sidwick said her business is being negatively affected by parking charges

Lucy Sidwick Lucy Sidwick is standing by a till in a cafe with a stack of plates and a computer next to her. She is smiling at the camera. — Lucy Sidwick said her business is being negatively affected by parking charges

A car park which introduced parking fees a year ago has raked in more from fines than parking charges themselves, and nearby businesses say they have been badly affected by the change.

Bath and North East Somerset Council brought in the charges to the previously free South Road Car Park in Midsomer Norton in March 2025. The car park generated £8,435 in parking fees but £12,675 in penalty notices.

The council said there are "no plans to change our charges", adding all revenue is reinvested into transport schemes.

Business owner Lucy Sidwick said: "More than half of our usual clients don't come any more, they say it's because of parking. It's not helping in any way, it failed in every way."

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Sidwick, who runs Zen Rebel Studios, said her business offers counselling for elderly people and people who come for their mental health.

"The parking charges make them anxious, they are worried they might get fined," Sidwick said.

Shaun Hughes, independent councillor on BANES for Midsomer Norton North, is standing on a road wearing a white shirt. Behind him is a sign calling for no parking charges. — Shaun Hughes says the parking charges have "failed"

Local councillor Shaun Hughes said it was "clear the project has failed".

The figures stem from a freedom of information request to the council by a resident.

The council said it did not have a breakdown of the cost of enforcement, but that parking services had made 426 visits to the car park between March 2025 and March 2026, totaling 168 working hours.

The car parks use "emissions-based parking" where cars are charged an additional amount based on how polluting the engine is.

Councillor Joel Hirst, cabinet member for sustainable transport strategy at the council, said: "The charges were introduced following consultation and following feedback, we introduced the first two hours of parking free of charge and reduced the proposed hourly rate by 25 per cent for those parking more than two hours.

"There are no plans to change our charges and we want to remind people that all surplus revenue is reinvested into transport schemes for the benefit of people who want to walk, wheel, cycle or drive in Bath and North East Somerset."

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