Parking permits planned for parts of Bedminster as drivers struggle to find a space
Plans would give priority to people living nearby and cut commuter parking
Parking permits are planned for parts of Bedminster, where drivers often struggle to find a space close to home.
A new permit zone is proposed for the Chessels and Parson Street areas, which would give priority to people who live locally and reduce commuter parking.
Bristol City Council is consulting the public on the plans. Similar plans are in place for Ashton Gate, Ashton Vale, Windmill Hill and Totterdown.
How the permit zone would work
Drivers would need a permit to park on local streets from Monday to Saturday between 9am and 9pm.
Permits would be available for people who live in the area, visitors, medical and social workers, businesses, customers, traders and landlords.
Blue badge holders would not need a permit.
The plans also include pay and display bays with a maximum stay of three hours.
The zone would cover the area south of North Street, including West Street, parts of Winterstoke Road and Bedminster Down Road, and the side streets of Chessel Street.
Parking on Sundays and bank holidays would not be affected. Neither would parking in driveways, garages or private areas off the public road.
Why the plans have been drawn up
The narrow streets in the area are often packed with tightly parked cars.
Lots of flats have been built in recent years without a parking space for every new home.
Several terraced houses have also been converted into houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), increasing the number of cars in the neighbourhood.
Green Councillor Ed Plowden, chair of the transport policy committee, said: "We know that finding somewhere to park can be a challenge for residents and businesses in parts of South Bristol, with local streets experiencing pressure from commuter parking and visitors to the area.
"These proposals are designed to give residents more priority for parking close to their homes, while helping to manage parking more effectively and support wider improvements to local streets."
More than half of the people who responded to a previous consultation, about the South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood, supported a permit zone across the Chessels and Parson Street.
What permits would cost
The cost of a first permit depends on how much carbon dioxide a vehicle emits. It would be either £129 or £193.
A second permit for a household would cost £233 a year, and a third would cost £581 a year.
Homes would be eligible for 60 free visitor permits a year. A further 60 visitor permits would cost £2 each.
Have your say
The public consultation runs until Tuesday 8th December.
Cllr Plowden added: "We've been engaging with a range of stakeholders, including local businesses, community organisations and Ashton Gate Stadium, to better understand the different pressures on parking across the area and how they affect local neighbourhoods.
"The Chessels and Parson Street survey forms part of a wider programme of work, alongside upcoming parking proposals in Ashton Gate and Ashton Vale, which have been informed by evidence gathering and ongoing engagement in the area.
"Feedback from residents, businesses and visitors will help us develop the schemes that reflect local needs and work for the wider community."