Lambridge Resident' Parking Zone plans cancelled
BANES Council says it's 'decided not to progress' with the plans
Plans to introduce a residents’ parking zone on the very edge of Bath have been scrapped.
Bath and North East Somerset Council had considered introducing a residents’ parking zone (RPZ) in Lambridge after locals complained they were finding it hard to park near their homes. But the council has now decided not to go ahead with the idea after it was opposed by 79% of people who responded to the consultation.
The main concern raised by the 739 who responded to the consultation was the impact on local business. The area is known for Larkhall’s village-like high street atmosphere and independent shops. Concern about the impact on local businesses was also a factor in the council’s recent decision to refuse planning permission for the Lidl proposed nearby on London Road.
Lambridge would have been the twenty-ninth RPZ in Bath. Residents’ parking zones have been introduced to increasingly further out areas of the city, but this has prompted warnings that parking problems are just being displaced into neighbouring areas.
The idea of introducing one in Lambridge was only proposed because locals complained to their ward councillors that it had become difficult to park near their homes after the nearby Walcot, Snow Hill and Claremont Road area RPZ went live in 2023.
Lambridge’s Green Party councillors Joanna Wright and Saskia Heijltjes said in a statement: “The decision to stop an RPZ in Lambridge from progressing reflects the concerns of the community. Many were genuinely concerned for the large number of local businesses and how this RPZ would impact their ability to operate.”
The councillors added: “The decision to stop an RPZ does not solve the wider problem of commuter parking in Lambridge, or the lack of a park and ride on the east side of Bath. We will keep pressing the council on both. Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond, came to the drop-in event, or spoke to us on the doorstep. We have listened. Your views have been heard.”
Bath and North East Somerset Council, in a statement posted on the webpage for the Lambridge RPZ on October 26, said: “Following the informal public engagement in late 2025, we, in consultation with the cabinet and ward councillors, have decided not to progress the proposed RPZ at this time. We’d like to thank the residents and the community for their comments and feedback which informed the decision.”
The residents’ parking zone proposed in Lambridge would have affected around 2,000 households. In August, Bath and North East Somerset Council introduced new rules meaning that the cost of a resident’s parking permit depends on the size of vehicle.
People whose vehicles take up more space on the street have to pay a surcharge, while people with smaller cars will get a discount. Under the new charges, a Smart car owner gets a ÂŁ20 discount on their permit each year, while someone with a Land Rover Discovery or Ford Galaxy has to pay just over ÂŁ41 more. The size-based charge applies on top of the emissions-based charge that drivers already pay.