Date published: 2026-05-28 | Category: Bath, Giving people a bigger say, Parking and Travel
Bath & North East Somerset Council is inviting residents to comment on proposed changes to parking charges aimed at improving road safety, encouraging sustainable travel, and ensuring the financial sustainability of its parking services.
The proposed changes put forward by the council includes:
- charges based on vehicle size for residents’ parking permits
- changes to all day parking at Bath’s three Park & Ride sites
- requiring a valid MOT for permit eligibility to reduce risks from unsafe or uninsured vehicles
- a small increase in the cost of RPZ visitors' parking permits, introduced over three years
The public is being asked to have their say in the consultation, which is open now until 5pm, 18 June. To take part in the consultation please go to the council’s website. The council will consider all the feedback to this proposal before deciding about whether to implement the changes.
Councillor Joel Hirst, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport Strategy, said: “The way we manage parking has a direct impact on road safety, fairness, and the council’s ability to maintain essential services. What we’ve proposing to do will help us achieve this. Higher charges for larger vehicles and discounts for smaller ones will encourage more people to use safer, smaller and cleaner vehicles, which will also help improve air quality.
“We want to hear as many voices as possible, that’s why we decided to consult again on these changes via a formal Traffic Regulation Order, thank you to all those who take part.”
Councillor Manda Rigby, Cabinet Member for Communications and Community, said: “We have three brilliant Park & Ride sites that run fast, regular and convenient services into the city and provide free parking for those using the service. One of our proposed changes is to increase the cost of 24-hour parking at these sites for motorists not using the service and want to hear your views.“
In addition to the council’s previous proposals, they are now also consulting on the introduction of parking charges on Weston Road in Bath, changes to permit parking on Monmouth Street to support Avon and Somerset Police moving into Bath city centre, and some operational changes to council car parks.
The council carried out initial public consultation on these proposals which closed in November 2025. Feedback showed that 50 per cent of respondents supported introducing size‑based charges or discounts for residents’ parking permits, and 38 per cent of respondents supported increasing the 24-hour parking charge at Park & Ride sites from £3 to £4 for motorists who don’t use the bus service.
The council withdrew its plans 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.
ENDS