Bath streets with free parking may become Pay and Display
Bath and North East Somerset Council are considering introducing charges for parking on seven streets close to the city centre.
Pay and display charges could soon be coming to Bath streets where people can currently park for free.
Bath and North East Somerset Council is considering introducing parking charges on seven streets it says are “within relatively easy reach of the city centre.” At the same time, residents’ parking zones and on-street parking charges could also be extended to apply until 10pm.
Charges could also be introduced at two small free car parks in the city, while the cost of permits in several already paid-for car parks would be doubled. These are just some of a host of proposed changes to the city’s parking policies, which the council has launched a consultation on.
Council cabinet member Joel Hirst said: “To support more sustainable travel options, we have to make the best use of the limited space we have on our streets, while ensuring that our parking policies and charges remain fair and effective for people who need to use a car.”
Other proposals would see an increase of the cost of on-street parking by 10% per hour every year locked in for the next three years. For drivers of the least polluting cars, this would mean paying 30p to 50p more for each additional hour of parking in the first year of raised prices.
The price would rise again by an even larger amount for the next two years. Because of Bath’s emissions-based parking charges, which sees more polluting vehicles paying a surcharge, the increase in cost would be even larger for most drivers.
“Seasonal parking charges” could also make people pay more to park in council car parks during the weekend while Bath Christmas Market is on. People parking for four hours or more would pay an extra £1, under the plan, while people parking for up to four hours would pay an additional 50p. If approved, this would begin in 2027 and not affect this year’s Christmas market.
New on-street charges
The seven streets where the council is proposing to introduce parking charges are:
Combe Park
This is a stretch of road right next to the Royal United Hospital where it is currently free to park, but which could become pay and display under the plans.
Cow Lane
This very narrow lane between the Royal Crescent and Royal Victoria Park is used as a parking spot by some at the point where it widens out. Now they could have to pay.
Park Lane
Non-permit holders can currently park for up to three hours along this road next to Royal Victoria Park. Now the stretch up from the turning into Tennyson Road could become paid for parking.
Newbridge Hill
Parking charges could be introduced along the stretch of uncontrolled parking west of the junction with Combe Park as far as the Old Newbridge Hill turning where the road becomes Kelston Road.
Widcombe Hill
Much of Widcombe Hill sits between two residents’ parking zones. It is a stretch of road which has become a popular location for free parking, but people would have to pay and display to park there in future under the plans.
Bathwick Hill
Parking charges could also be introduced along Bathwick Hill, covering all of the long hill which is not already covered by a residents’ parking zone.
Warminster Road
Large parts of Warminster Road could also soon be covered by parking charges, from where the double yellows end near the turning into Trossachs Drive until near the Sydney Gardens where the road becomes Beckford Road. The map released by the council suggests the new charges would not apply to the small amount of 45-minute parking spaces at the end of the road.
New car park charges
The two small local car parks which could also become paid-for are:
Church Road car park
This is a car park with nine spaces in Weston where parking is currently free and uncontrolled. The council is considering introducing permits for reserved spaces for residents to use. The council said: “Further details about how the permits could operate would be developed if the proposal progresses.”
Weymouth Street car park
This car park with ten spaces, one of which is a disabled bay, is a “shopper car park.” It currently offers two hours’ free parking but could become a paid short stay car park instead.
Double cost parking permits
Permits for reserved parking spaces in resident and business car parks could be doubled. Permits currently cost £547.50 for a resident and £730 for a business.
This would apply for the following car parks: Walcot’s London Street and Bedford Street car parks, Westmoreland’s Brougham Hayes and Southview Road car parks, and the James Street West car park.
Have your say
The proposals would come into effect in the 2027/28 financial year, if adopted by the council. Mr Hirst said: “We want to know what residents think about the changes we are proposing and all the feedback we get will help inform any decisions we make.”
The consultation runs until 5pm on November 3. You can see more details and respond to the consultation here: https://haveyoursay.bathnes.gov.uk/parkingcharges/index.php