PARKING charges at Yatton Railway Station are set to stay, despite complaints from villagers that they are causing people to park dangerously elsewhere.

First Great Western (FGW) currently charges �2.10-�2.30 per day for motorists to use the car park and residents said it has had a knock-on effect, with people using nearby roads to park for free.

Steve Tyler, central area manager for FGW, said there was no prospect of the charges being removed.

He said: “When we introduce or increase charges at a car park, it is always going to cause upset.”

The increasing number of cars parked in the roadside could cause a safety issue, according to residents at Yatton Parish Council’s annual meeting.

Rhiannon Prys-Owen, who runs the village PACT group, claimed many people are concerned. She said: “Now there are charges to use the car park it has had a knock-on effect on streets in the surrounding area. We get commuters parking on the road and it is having a huge impact on community safety.”

Mr Tyler said he would continue to ask Network Rail to improve the state of the car park amid further complaints from residents.

The future, however, remains uncertain with a 15-year franchise up for grabs next year. Mr Tyler confirmed FGW would be bidding.

The Department of Transport will outline guidelines later this year on what train companies will have to provide. It could mean booking offices are closed to cut costs.