Date published: 2025-10-17 | Category: Giving people a bigger say, Parking and Travel
Bath & North East Somerset Council is inviting residents to comment on proposals aimed at improving road safety, supporting sustainable travel, and ensuring the financial sustainability of its parking services.
One proposal is to increase the baseline cost of an on-street parking permit which has not changed for over a decade, despite the rising costs of maintenance and enforcement of residents parking zones (RPZs). There would also be a proportional uplift across the emission-based bands for residents which support cleaner air.
RPZs are central to the council’s sustainable transport strategy. They help reduce commuter and anti-social parking, improve safety, and make it easier for residents to park near their homes, while supporting visitors and local businesses. However, RPZs must cover their own running costs. The proposal is for the baseline charges for permits to increase by 20%.
To ensure fairer contributions from EV owners, the council also proposes removing the discount for electric vehicle (EV) permits, aligning them with the tariff for the least polluting vehicles.
The proposals outlined above were approved by Full Council in February and would take effect this year, subject to the outcome of the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) consultation.
In a separate, preliminary consultation, the council is seeking views on potential updates to RPZ tariffs for 2026/27, which would be subject to formal consultation later this year.
A key proposal in this consultation is to link residents’ permit costs to vehicle size to improve road safety. The aim is to encourage ownership of smaller, safer vehicles that reduce the risk of serious accidents and cause less obstruction on narrow streets.
Smaller vehicles would receive a discount, while some larger models would incur an additional charge on top of any existing emission-based fees. The council also proposes only issuing permits to vehicles with a valid MOT, helping reduce risks from unsafe or potentially uninsured vehicles.
A modest increase in the cost of a visitors parking permit will also be introduced over three years from £1 to £2.50 per day by 2028.
For council car parks and Park & Ride sites, changes include introducing Saturday charging at Bath Hill car park in Keynsham; and increasing the 24-hour rate at Park & Ride sites from £3 to £4 for motorists who don’t use the bus service.
The council is also launching the first of three consultations on new or extended RPZs to help tackle growing pressure on on-street parking. These are proposed for the Lambridge, Locksbrook and Audley Grove areas of Bath. In July, the council asked residents in Southdown and Moorlands for their views on an RPZ and is considering the outcomes.
From October 17, residents and businesses in Lambridge can give their views on a draft RPZ design bordered by Valley View Road in the north and London Road in the south, including a proposed extension of Walcot’s RPZ into Grosvenor Place.
A formal statutory consultation will follow next year. Initial consultations on RPZs for Locksbrook and the Audley Grove area will launch later in the Autumn.
Councillor Joel Hirst, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport Strategy, said: “We’ve timed these consultations to run together so Lambridge residents can consider the full picture, including potential costs, while reviewing the proposed zone.
“Many residents want action on commuter parking. Introducing a zone can help address this, improve safety, and support a shift to more sustainable travel.
“The proposed increase on baseline permit costs ensures those who benefit from RPZs contribute fairly to their upkeep. The baseline hasn’t changed in over 10 years and needs to reflect current pressures. The corresponding uplift on existing emissions-based pricing means more polluting vehicles pay more, supporting cleaner transport.
“Linking permit costs to vehicle size is about safety. Vehicles are getting bigger. And research tells us that pedestrians and cyclists are 44% more likely to be killed or seriously injured if hit by a large vehicle, rising to over 80% for children. This supports our Vision Zero goal to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on our roads.”
Find out more
Lambridge RPZ and extension of zone 27 into Grosvenor Place area:
- The Lambridge RPZ consultation runs until Friday 14 November at www.bathnes.gov.uk/lambridgeRPZ
- Residents in the proposed zone will receive letters about the proposal. For assistance, call 01225 39 40 25.
Parking service updates:
- The TRO consultation 2025-6 and the Preliminary consultation 2026-27 run until 7 November. Full details are available at
www.bathnes.gov.uk/2025parkingreview
- Permit holders will be notified via MiPermit and email. For support, contact Parking Services on 01225 477133.
Help to take part in consultations is also available at B&NES libraries and information services.