Decision sought on parking charge consultation in Bath & North East Somerset

Councillors are being asked to agree a public consultation on changes to parking charges, based on vehicle-size, for residents’ parking permits in Bath and North East Somerset.

Other proposed changes to parking charges are also going before councillors for a decision.

Recommendations to approve the public consultation as part of the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process are set out in a Single Member Decision report published today following the results of an earlier public consultation.

The report before Cllr Joel Hirst, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport Strategy, and Cllr Manda Rigby, Cabinet Member for Communications and Community recommends further public consultation on an additional size-based charge or discount for resident parking permits; increasing visitor permit charges; and making changes for all day parking at the three Bath Park & Rides. 

The aim of the size-based change is to encourage ownership of smaller, safer vehicles that reduce the risk of serious accidents and cause less obstruction on narrow streets.

SUVs and larger vehicles now account for more than 60% of new UK car sales, and research shows they pose greater risks to vulnerable road users due to height and blind spots.

Under the scheme smaller vehicles would receive a discount, while some larger models would incur an additional charge on top of any existing emission-based fees. Permits would only be issued to vehicles with a valid MOT, helping reduce risks from unsafe or potentially uninsured vehicles.

The initial consultation, which ran from 17 October to 7 November, attracted 490 responses and 660 comments. While parking charges remain a sensitive issue, analysis revealed notable support for size-based charges, with fifty per cent of respondents in favour.

A modest increase in the cost of a visitors’ parking permit could also be introduced over three years from £1 to £2.50 per day by 2028.

For council Park & Ride sites changes would include increasing the 24-hour rate at Park & Ride sites from £3 to £4 for motorists who don’t use the bus service.

Councillor Joel Hirst, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport Strategy, said: “Thank you to all those who took part in the earlier consultation. We’ve listened to your feedback and have amended our proposals. We will now carefully consider the recommendations before us for a further consultation under the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process.”

Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for Communications and Communities added: ‘I will give careful consideration to the recommendations in the report. The proposals do not affect short-stay parking at our park and rides. This helps dog walkers and sports teams by not raising their charges however the proposals do address those who park all day but don’t use the bus and are therefore not contributing to the maintenance of the park and ride.”    

For more details and to view the full consultation report, visit:
https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/preliminary-consultation-parking-charges-2026-27.