Claims Taunton' Crescent car park could lose £173,000 a year

Somerset West and Taunton Council began work in January on refurbishing the Crescent car park in Taunton, providing more accessible parking spaces, adding in electric vehicle charging points and providing new cycle shelters to encourage people to cycle into the town centre.

The £1m project was completed in the summer, shortly before the new Somerset Council approved increasing car parking charges by an average of ten per cent in light of rising inflation.

Councilor Diogo Rodrigues, shadow portfolio holder for transport and digital, has claimed the changes to the car park will lead to the council losing £173,000 a year – and questioned whether further similar changes could be tolerated given the council’s financial pressures.

The council has responded that it doesn’t expect car parking income in Taunton to fall at all, and the new EV chargers would provide a new source of funding for local services.

Mr Rodrigues – who represents the Bridgwater East and Bawdrip division – raised his concerns when the full council met in Bridgwater on Wednesday afternoon (September 27).

Cllr Diogo Rodrigues, shadow portfolio holder for transport and digital. (Image: Diogo Rodrigues)

He said: “The refurbishment at the Crescent car park in Taunton has resulted in a 37 per cent reduction in regular parking spaces and an expected loss of income totalling approximately £173,000 (excluding the £20,000 monthly loss during refurbishment).

“The council in a ‘stark and challenging’ financial situation, and it plans to continue reduce parking availability in urban areas to promote alternative transportation methods.

“Do you believe that reducing the income from the Crescent car park by £173,000 was a prudent financial decision, given the council’s financial challenge?

“Can the council afford the self-inflicted financial loss resulting from rolling out reduced parking availability in urban areas, considering the budget constraints?”

The council is currently consulting on its ‘Creating Places for People’ proposals (until October 16), which if approved will emphasise car-free travel in any future Somerset housing developments – which could lead to a drop in car parking income.

Cllr Mike Rigby, the council's portfolio holder for transport and digital. (Image: Daniel Mumby)

Councillor Mike Rigby, the current portfolio holder for transport and digital, responded: “The Crescent car park in Taunton is a valuable asset, and it’s one that’s received scant attention for many years.

“I’m pleased that the district council was able to take the action that it’s done and to invest in its future. It’s now vastly improved and forms an important part of our place-making ambitions for Taunton.

“We don’t anticipate any reduction in overall parking income in Taunton as a result of the much-needed improvements in the Crescent car park; indeed, the installation of electric vehicle chargers will create a new income stream for the council.

“We expect that overall use of the Crescent will increase due to the improvement in the public realm, attracting more users and maximising the asset’s use and income.

“Any peak-time displacement from the Crescent will be picked up by surrounding public parking also in our control.”

Mr Rodrigues questioned whether the Crescent’s charging points would generate any meaningful income, given they were currently being used predominantly by council staff.

He said: “With the EV charging points at our council premises not working, I understand the advice to staff needing EV charging points is to use the Crescent car park.

“You are reducing the availability of EV charging points for regular car park users.”

Mr Rigby did not respond to this supplementary comment during the meeting.