Charges could eventually be introduced at three currently free car parks in Shepton Mallet as part of Somerset Council's county-wide parking review.

Regal Road West, Town Lane and Cannards Grave Road have all been identified as locations where charging could be considered, while separate proposals would change prices at Commercial Road, Great Ostry and Regal Road East from December.

The proposed new tariffs for existing pay-and-display car parks have not yet been approved and are due to go before Somerset Council's Executive on Wednesday, 23 September.

Regal Road West has 16 spaces and is primarily used by residents and visitors to the neighbouring service yard. Council officers have suggested considering Tier 2 charges there, bringing it into line with Regal Road East.

Under the proposed system, Tier 2 would cost £1.50 for one hour, £2.70 for two hours, £4.40 for four hours and £8.90 all day.

At Cannards Grave Road, the car park is currently used by Somerset Council staff from Monday to Friday and is free for the public at weekends.

The review suggests retaining staff permits during the working week while considering Tier 3 charges for public use. That tariff would be £1.30 for one hour, £2.10 for two hours, £3.50 for four hours and £6.80 all day.

The 21-space Town Lane car park, which also has a disabled bay, could be considered for Tier 4.

That tier is intended for rural and village locations and would keep the first hour free, although the council says more work is needed to understand how Town Lane is used and the needs of nearby businesses and residents.

Somerset Council has stressed that there would be no immediate introduction of charges at the currently free car parks.

Engagement with users, businesses, residents, councillors and Shepton Mallet Town Council is expected to begin from October before any local decisions are taken.

Changes could come sooner at the town's existing pay-and-display car parks if the wider tariff proposals are approved.

Commercial Road would move into Tier 3. Its one-hour charge would stay at £1.30, while two hours would increase from £1.80 to £2.10 and all-day parking would rise from £4.40 to £6.80.

Great Ostry would be placed in Tier 2. One hour would increase from £1.30 to £1.50, two hours from £1.80 to £2.70 and four hours from £4.20 to £4.40.

The proposed all-day price at Great Ostry would be £8.90. The existing tariff includes £6.80 for five hours and £2.30 for all-day Sunday parking.

Regal Road East would also be placed in Tier 2. Its one-hour charge would remain at £1.50, while two hours would fall from £3 to £2.70 and four hours from £6.80 to £4.40.

The proposed all-day charge would be £8.90, compared with the current £2.30 Sunday all-day tariff.

Permit-only arrangements at Regal Road Service Yard and Zion Hill would remain unchanged.

The review also recommends examining parking pressure on residential streets around Shepton Mallet, including possible changes to waiting restrictions, charges on existing limited-waiting bays and additional controls where problems are identified.

Those ideas have been given a low priority and would require further engagement and consultation before any measures could be introduced.

If approved by the Executive, the new tariffs at existing pay-and-display sites could begin in December. A new parking order would first be published, followed by a 21-day statutory period during which objections could be submitted.

The full parking review and proposed tariffs can be viewed here.

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