The council is seeking feedback on a range of proposed parking charge changes across Bath & North East Somerset. The proposals are intended to support road safety, improve air quality, reduce congestion and encourage more walking, wheeling and cycling.
The proposals are designed to help make the best use of limited road space, support the aims of the council's Movement Strategy and ensure parking policies and charges remain fair and effective for residents, businesses and visitors.
The consultation includes proposals such as:
- Changes to emissions-based parking charges for permits and pay-and-display parking.
- Increases to on-street pay-and-display charges over a three-year period.
- Introducing pay-and-display parking in some currently unrestricted streets close to Bath city centre.
- Extending operating hours for Residents' Parking Zones (RPZs) and on-street pay-and-display parking in Bath until 10pm.
- Seasonal parking charges during Bath Christmas Market weekends in council car parks.
- Increases to reserved parking space charges in some residential car parks.
- New permit arrangements at Church Road car park in Weston.
- New short-stay parking charges at Weymouth Street car park in Walcot.
No. These are proposals only. The purpose of the consultation is to gather public feedback before any decisions are made.
Consultation responses will help inform decisions on whether to progress any of the proposals. The feedback will also help inform the council's budget-setting process for 2027/28.
Yes, we carefully consider all feedback on proposed changes before deciding whether to implement them. We recently withdrew proposals to extend parking charges at Bath Hill East car park in Keynsham to include Saturdays, after feedback from residents and businesses highlighted concerns about impact on local footfall and affordability. We also recently withdrew proposals to introduce emission-based parking charges for motorbikes.
If approved, the proposals would not be implemented until 2027/28 at the earliest.
Yes. Where proposals require additional development or formal statutory processes, further consultation and engagement would take place before implementation.
Emissions-based charging is intended to encourage the use of lower-emission vehicles and support the council's work to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions.
The proposal is intended to better manage parking demand during evening periods and help ensure parking availability for residents in affected areas.
Some streets close to Bath city centre experience significant parking demand during the day. The proposal aims to better manage parking pressures and turnover in these locations and encourage the use of more sustainable modes of transport by motorists using these locations for commuting.
The proposed seasonal charges would only apply during Bath Christmas Market weekends and would be limited to council car parks in Bath. The proposal would not affect the 2026 Christmas Market.
No. The proposals are linked to wider objectives around traffic management, road safety, air quality and sustainable travel. Feedback will help determine whether the proposals should proceed and will also inform future budget planning.
The council's Movement Strategy aims to give people more travel choices, improve public transport, walking, wheeling and cycling, and reduce congestion caused by private vehicle traffic. The proposed parking changes are intended to support these objectives by:
- Encouraging the use of lower-emission vehicles through emissions-based parking charges.
- Helping manage parking demand in busy areas, particularly close to Bath city centre.
- Encouraging some visitors to consider alternatives to driving, such as Park & Ride, public transport, walking and cycling where suitable.
- Making it easier for residents to find parking close to their homes through measures such as changes to Residents' Parking Zones and parking controls.
- Supporting the efficient use of limited road and parking space across the area.
- The consultation will help the council understand whether residents support these approaches and inform any future decisions.
The consultation can be completed online via the council's website before the published closing date and time.
Participants do not have to support or oppose all of the proposals. The consultation allows people to give open feedback on individual measures and explain their views.
The council is encouraging residents, businesses, visitors, commuters and anyone affected by parking arrangements in Bath & North East Somerset to share their views.
Full details of each proposal, including the reasoning behind them and any supporting information will be available on the consultation webpage.