Council Listens to Evening Parking Charge Concerns

Proposals for a new lower charge for evening parking has been formally announced by the Cabinet on Bath and North East Somerset Council. The proposal, subject to consultation, should start by September. Parking in Avon Street and Charlotte Street car parks may cost £1 from 6pm until midnight.

The consultation is in response to concerns expressed by local residents, businesses, and community groups about new level of charges recently introduced. Councillor Charles Gerrish, Cabinet Member for Customer Services, commented:

The Cabinet has listened to local people on this issue and will act in line with their concerns. A one pound flat rate from 6pm would be consistent with our on-street parking arrangements and represents better value than other cities. For example, Bristol City Council charges a night rate some sixty percent higher and in Swindon the figure for over two hours is eighty percent higher.

When technical work on alternative options began six weeks ago the Cabinet believed that any proposal should achieve a balance between maintaining a vibrant evening economy and managing parking issues in the city. Bath and North East Somerset Council values what the city’s evening cultural events have to offer and the new night rate recognises these issues.

Bath and North East Somerset Council envisages that the change can be accommodated within the overall parking revenue budget. Meanwhile an independent report considering parking with the local authority is in the course of being developed.

The proposed decision was published on the Council’s Weekly Decision List in June 2008. Councillor Gerrish will then make a formal decision that will be subject to the Council’s call-in procedures.