NEW parking charges are due to be introduced at Nailsea and Backwell Station this summer.

North Somerset Council has purchased some land for £700,000 to extend the car park from 120 to 280 spaces and is planning to introduce charges to recoup the money.

Due to a lack of spaces, commuters currently park in residential streets in Backwell and councillors are hoping the extension will alleviate the village’s parking problems.

To prevent people from continuing to park in the streets when the charges come in, Backwell Parish Council has written to North Somerset Council to ask for yellow lines to be added to four roads in the parish.

Parish council chairman Bob Taylor said: “We’re happy with the proposed extension to the car park. We’re hoping it will alleviate the street parking around Waverley Road, Moor Lane, Amberlands Close and Longthorn.

“At the moment, if people are running late they leave their cars right on the corner, which is dangerous and isn’t fair to residents who can’t get in and out of their drives.

We’re asking for yellow lines on several corners and asking the police to enforce them. “As it progresses we will be watching what affect it has on these side roads.”

People will be charged £1.50 a day before 10am from Monday to Friday or £1 after 10am.

Nailsea Town Council will also be monitoring the scheme to make sure it does not impact badly upon residents.

Town council clerk Ian Morrell said: “I think the concern everybody has is whether people will use surrounding streets and Backwell Lake as opposed to actually using the car park.

“We don’t really know what’s going to happen until it’s implemented. Then we will need to look at what measures need to be taken, if any.”

A planning application has now been submitted to North Somerset Council to extend the car park. If it is given the green light, work is expected to start in August and the charges will be brought in once it has been opened.

A North Somerset Council spokesman said: “We will be looking at parking restrictions in nearby streets. We want to minimise any disruption to residents caused by displaced parking.”