BUSINESS leaders in Minehead are calling for a 50 per cent cut in charges at the majority of the town's public car parks in a recession-beating bid to survive the economic downturn.

Chamber of trade chairman Graham Sizer said town centre shopkeepers would be encouraged to support a campaign for the reduction in charges at the North Road, Summerland, Clanville and Alexandra Road facilities.

And he is also calling for free parking in the winter months in all car parks, apart from Summerland and the seafront area.

Mr Sizer said that whilst action was awaited on the issue of on-street parking fees, this would be a quick and easy way to help.

"Advertising the summer discount on the outskirts of town and attracting visitors to use the centre would help counter the recession," he said.

Car parks across the district are, in the main, managed and owned by West Somerset Council and provide a major source of income for the district authority, bringing in more than £620,000 in the last financial year.

But a parking survey commissioned by the authority in 2007 concluded that Minehead's car parks should not be used to generate income but, instead, used for the economic well-being of the town.

Consultants Colin Buchanan highlighted concerns with existing charging structures, particularly in the Summerland, North Road and Station car parks.

Following a 15 per cent increase in charges in 2008/09, the council has frozen fees for the coming financial year.

Mr Sizer said some might ask why he was putting forward such a novel but questionable idea when the council was strapped for cash.

"But an economic tsunami is approaching and both district and county councils are moving at a snail's pace through the normal strategic approach to the problem," he said.

Mr Sizer said he had been asking for signs to be put up directing motorists to car parks in Minehead - most recently at the newly completed station/market development owned by Somerset County Council but managed by the district authority and at Clanville, where 40 long-awaited public spaces have finally come on stream.

But the lack of action was frustrating.

He said the district council was about to receive a planning application for the proposed new Morrisons supermarket on the Vulcan Road car park.

"Morrisons will be paying in the region of £6 million just for the car parking element of the site and none of these supermarkets are allowed to build without providing between 200 and 300 spaces.

"It is highly irregular that planning gain Section 106 money in such developments doesn't get injected directly into regenerative projects to counter-balance the effect.

"I have seen no indication that any Section 106 money from Morrisons is being suggested to bolster a high street about to be embroiled in recession.

"One per cent of £6m is £60,000, roughly the same amount that a 50 per cent reduction in car parking costs would be in our four town centre car parks."

Mr Sizer said action was needed to keep Minehead's town centre vibrant and sustainable and it was vital that local shops did not face any more barriers than necessary as they tried to keep their businesses afloat.

Stacey Beaumont, the council's media and PR officer told the Free Press: "Our parking charges are already lower than in many resorts in the South West and we have not raised charges this year to help local people and businesses through the economic downturn.

"We are currently supporting small local businesses through a rate relief scheme and will be providing further targeted support.

"Like other councils we depend on money raised from parking charges to provide services, and rather than cut essential services to taxpayers who are also suffering in the downturn, we would look to support businesses from our other funding streams."