Bath & North East Somerset Council is planning to roll out more parking zones for residents in the city at a cost of £700,000.
Funding has been approved for a consultation, detailed design and the implementation of new and extended residents’ parking zones (RPZs) to be developed and introduced over 2025/26 and 2026/27.
The funding decision was taken by the council’s Director of Place Management and is coming from Service Supported Council Borrowing.
The report says that not implementing new RPZs wasn’t considered to be a viable option.
It explains: “The increase in the number of resident parking schemes in Bath, along with an increase in city centre car parking charges to encourage a shift to more sustainable transport options, such as the Park and Ride, has seen the displacement of commuter vehicles by price-sensitive motorists into outer areas of the city.
“This creates increased pressure for the limited kerb space available on residential roads to the detriment of local residents and public transport, increasing air pollution and reducing air quality.”
Residents in the Southdown and Moorlands area of Bath were recently consulted about the introduction of a parking zone.
The council has acknowledged that the RPZ in the Oldfield Park and Westmoreland wards may have resulted in more demand for unrestricted parking in the northern areas of the Southdown and Moorlands wards.
RPZs are membership schemes that allow eligible residents to buy permits to park in a zone – but having one does not guarantee you a space.
Eligible residents can buy up to two permits per household to park in their zone during operating hours which are typically 8am to 6pm, seven days a week. Permit numbers are reduced for properties with driveways or garages.
The cost usually ranges from £100 to £125 per permit based on a typical eight-year-old family car, but costs will vary depending on a vehicle’s emissions.
A RPZ includes short-stay bays for visitors using local amenities.
Visitors, tradespeople and some businesses can also obtain permits to park in permit-holder-only bays and concessions, and dedicated spaces are available for Blue Badge holders.
Failure to comply with restrictions could result in a Penalty Charge Notice.
