Bath & North East Somerset Council has listened to local residents and decided not to implement proposals for a residents’ parking zone in the Newbridge, Weston, Kingsmead and Lansdown areas of Bath.
The Council carried out a public consultation about a proposed zone, including a drop-in day at Weston Children’s Centre on 14th August.
The proposals, which encompassed the area surrounding the Royal United Hospital Bath (RUH), suggested a scheme to introduce a combination of resident only parking and commuter parking, but the responses showed around 63% of people were against the idea.
This result, and the comments received, were assessed and have been considered by the Cabinet Member for Transport Cllr Anthony Clarke (Conservative, Lansdown).
He said: “We have decided not to proceed with these particular proposals but we will continue to engage with residents to find local parking solutions that are supported by the community.
“We may come forward with revised proposals more tailored to local needs if there is sufficient local support, and we will work with the RUH on other mitigating measures.
“Whilst these particular proposals are not being taken forward, we remain conscious of the parking problems in the area and will continue to seek the right solutions for residents.”
Recently-approved plans to expand car parking at the RUH’s Combe Park site by almost 30% are a major step towards tackling the problem.
Howard Jones, Director of Estates and Facilities at the RUH said: “We are delighted to have had our plans to provide additional patient, visitor and staff parking at the RUH formally approved by the Council.
“On Monday 2nd November, the council granted permission for the creation of 350 extra spaces on site, which will significantly improve the experience of patients, visitors and staff when it comes to parking at the hospital, as well as helping to alleviate parking pressures in the residential areas surrounding the RUH.
“Work on the new car park has already begun to the front of the RUH, on the site of the old pathology lab, and we hope to have the new car park completed by the end of March 2016.”
