MOTORISTS using council car parks in Somerset will have to pay more from next month.

Somerset Council is hiking the cost by around 10 per cent in each car park.

In some cases August's increases will be slightly higher than that, while others will see it a little below that percentage as the new fee will be rounded up to the nearest 10p.

The new parking charges are aimed at giving consistency and at covering inflationary costs.

Parking season tickets are also being increased by a similar percentage in the measures agreed at the council’s annual budget meeting.

But there's good news for householders as on-street parking permit fees will be held.

A council spokesperson said that prior to the parking charges review, there was some inconsistency across the county - in some cases parking charges haven’t increased for years.

The new charges recognise and allow for inflationary pressures and will ensure the council can meet its transport objectives without increasing additional demand on its budget.

A full breakdown of the new charges across Somerset will be published shortly.

Somerset Council’s service director for infrastructure and transport, David Carter, said: “We are always reluctant to increase charges, particularly during the cost of living crisis.

"However, with inflation running at 10 per cent we have to recover our costs of running the service.

“Any revenue generated will be ring-fenced and put back into meeting transport and highways objectives.”