Proposal for yellow box fines income
Drivers face tougher traffic enforcement as council looks to boost income from fines
Bath and North East Somerset Council could soon increase its enforcement of yellow boxes as it plans to raise more income from traffic fines.
Drivers who are caught stopping in a yellow box or turning the wrong way down a one way street could be more likely to get a fine from next year. But they can be comforted by the knowledge that by doing so they are helping Bath and North East Somerset Council to balance it’s budget.
The council plans to increase its use of the powers to bring in another £250k next year. It is one of a host of proposed savings and new ways of generating money which are being consulted on for inclusion in next year’s council budget.
An equalities impact assessment said: “Enforcing more types of traffic restrictions such as banned turns and one way streets will make roads safer for all users. It will encourage all drivers and riders of motor vehicles to comply with restrictions.”
Other proposals being consulted on include changing recycling centre hours, introducing new parking charges, cutting the council’s in house pest control service, increasing park and ride fares, and introducing a “small charge” for the council’s currently free discovery cards. The consultation is open until January 19.
Once again, council tax is also proposed to rise by the maximum of 4.99%. Two of those percentage points will be ring fenced for spending on adult social care.
Announcing the consultation in December, council cabinet member for resources Mark Elliott (Lansdown, LIberal Democrat) said: “At a time when many councils have been forced into cutbacks, we are committed to protecting and investing in frontline services, including adult and children’s services, as well as maintaining spend on our roads, culture and keeping our environment clean and green.
“The government has not yet told us what our funding looks like for next year, but we are pretty certain it will be less. Its funding calculations also assume that all councils will raise council tax by the maximum level of 4.99%. We don’t agree with these changes and believe that ministers should ensure no council faces a budget cut.
“But we take our responsibility for managing taxpayers’ money very seriously and have used the best available modelling and advice to put together a set of proposals we are considering bringing to council in February. We believe this will allow us to achieve a balanced budget once the government settlement is confirmed.”
You can respond to the consultation here: https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/budget-consultation-2026-2027