Katie Bird says business is hard enough already without the extra cost on customers (Image: Adam Toms/The Express) This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
A quiet UK seaside town has been rocked by one change that could end up “ruining everything” for its high street. The beautiful town of Clevedon, with its iconic pier, filming locations and proximity to Bristol, is idyllic. But one big change is on the horizon. This year, North Somerset Council will order the end of free parking in several streets, despite a petition signed by over 4,000 people.
Traders in charge of the town’s many independent businesses suggest that times are tough enough already without the extra cost on visitors. Mark White, 51, works at Clevedon Music Shop. He told The Express: “I don’t see how it’s positive in any way; it’s ridiculous. For years people have been coming in the shop because they’d rather come here than Bristol, because they have to pay for parking.
“Now we’re going to have the same problem.” He also mentioned the “mess” around with the seafront, whereby North Somerset Council tried to change the road layout with “wavey” lines. This was denounced by the RAC as “bizarre”, and cost £1.3million initially, as well as a further £375,000 to correct the mistake. Mr White said: “I think they’re useless to be honest with you. If someone turned around to me and said, ‘your customers have to pay for parking and that’s a good thing,’ I’d think they were mad.”
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Mark White says the charges are ‘mad’ (Image: Adam Toms/The Express)
Locals say the parking charges are a cash generator to recoup money spent on failed road changes (Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
The new charges will include the Hill Road area of Clevedon, as well as Alexandra Road, Bellevue Road and Gardens Road, as reported by our sister site Somerset Live.
30 mins Free1 hour £1.502 hours £2.503 hours £3.50
Locals fear that once the fee is introduced, the council will ramp it up and use it as a “cash generator” to “claw back” cash spent on the failed highway scheme.
“It’s quite concerning, to be honest,” said Katie Bird, 56, the owner of Birdsmith Jewellery.
“For me especially, the price of metals has shot up. It’s difficult as it is. North Somerset Council don’t seem to spend very well.”
She described the road change mentioned by Mr White as a “complete debacle” that nobody wanted.
Now, officials have singled businesses out by targeting on street parking, she claims, “when it should just be car parks to bring us into line with the rest of Somerset.” She asked: “Why have you singled us out? It’s very unfair.”
“We know damn well it is to recoup the cost of the road scheme, no matter how much they say it isn’t,” the businesswoman added.
“This is the last thing I want, really.” It’s quite possible that she may have to close, Ms Bird said.
Mark Scales is selling his rental properties (Image: Adam Toms/The Express)
Richard Fost says the parking fee is ‘not ideal by any means’ (Image: Adam Toms)
“If we don’t get the footfall, we’re stuffed, basically. It’s also unfair on the residents. There are quite a lot of elderly residents.
“Especially since they’ve messed the buses up [with a one way system] as well.”
It will be more difficult for people to spend time at their favourite cafes, she offered as an example.
On running her business overall, Ms Bird said: “It is hard work, especially if you’re a single owner without big backing behind you.
“It’s really, really tough. It’s very unreliable, certainly over the last two years. You just don’t know what’s going to happen from one month to the next.
“That’s become the norm now. You used to be able to forecast.”
“They’re money-grabbing,” said Mark Scales, 53, of Alexander Road’s tool hire store, Contract Hire Ltd.
“It’s obvious it’s just to pay for the cock-up they’ve done at the seafront.”
The businessman also talked about rising costs for enterprises like his.
“The Government is screwing us,” he said. “It’s not worth it anymore.” Mr Scales then revealed that he is planning to sell both of his rental properties following Rachel Reeves’ announcement of her Budget in November, a 2% increase in the tax on rental income for landlords, effective from April 2027.
Richard Fost, 44, a designer at family kitchen, bathroom and bedroom store Timbercraft said the charges are the “biggest bone of contention” in the town, and they have “been on the cards for a little while”.
He also mentioned the changes to the road layout, and the “huge amount of money” spent by the council altering the seafront.
“It was a disaster, and they’ve subsequently put the majority of it back to way that it was,” Mr Fost said. “Whether the parking charges are covering some of the expense there?”
He added: “From a business point of view, it’s not ideal by any means. It’s bound to have negative impact on visitors and trade, especially in this area of Clevedon.”
Even though Timbercraft is ticking along nicely, “It’s not ideal for all retail when footfall is down anyway.”
Clevedon is a scenic seaside town in Somerset (Image: Getty)
Katie Bird runs a jewellery store in Clevedon (Image: Adam Toms/The Express)
North Somerset Council insisted that the introduction of parking charges is unrelated to Clevedon seafront.
A spokesperson for the authority added: “Councils across the southwest and the country have adopted parking charges so that their parking services are better managed, maintained and self-funding.
“Not only does this allow delivery of an improved parking service, but it makes savings in spending that would otherwise have come from councils’ main budgets.”
The purpose of parking charges, the council said, is set out in its Parking Management Strategy, which was adopted by the Council’s Executive in October 2024.
It includes “well-managed, well-maintained parking facilities that meet our current and future needs”, and parking that is “self-funding where possible or which creates surplus for the council to invest back into improved parking, transport, infrastructure and maintenance.”