A business on the Bristol road with the most parking fines in 2023 has called Bristol City Council “gangsters” for only trying to make money with poorly communicated parking restrictions. The parking signage, on Gloucester Road, was also described as “confusing” for customers.
A Freedom of Information request submitted by Bristol Live earlier this year showed that 3,375 fines were issued on Gloucester Road in 2023 as 2,335 drivers were fined on the Bishopston end of the road and 1,040 on the Horfield end. Between 4.30pm and 6.30pm, there is a complete ban on parking and stopping on the road.
However, businesses on Gloucester Road have slammed the current signage on the road as customers are being left unaware of the parking restrictions. Diego Godoy, from Artigo, said: “I’ve had customers unaware of the parking restrictions because the sign isn’t clearly visible.
“Especially from 4.30pm to 6.30pm is when wardens start ticketing people so people who are unaware might be shopping and come back to their car and find out they have a ticket. If I see them park then I do warn them as I see lots of people get ticketed.
“Occasionally when I am bringing things into my store I’ve seen people try and understand the signs and they get confused. I’ve had to explain to them that they need to park in another spot nearby.”
Complaints about the signage have ranged from signs being dirty and therefore not visible, to signs being located too close to the road so visitors have to stand in the road to see the restrictions. Mr Godoy added: “There are too many times and too many restrictions on one sign, people are just confused.”
Laura Manning, who is the owner of The Flower Shop, has slammed the council and called the authoritative body “gangsters” over the poor communication over the parking restrictions. Ms Manning, who has to rush deliveries in by the time it reaches 4.30pm, says the parking restrictions are there to just make more money.
She said: “It’s the council trying to make more money. I think they are absolute gangsters, I think they’ll do anything to try and get as much money as they can.
“They’re constantly putting restrictions down and we are not hearing about it. We accidentally stumble on it and get a load of tickets. The tickets are quite expensive, £35 each, some of the parking inspectors are really nice about it and they’ll give me the heads up, but others will hide behind shops and spring a ticket on you.
“My mum got a ticket the other day, she’s an elderly woman and she got really upset and stressed out. Bristol City Council are always letting us down with everything.”
Illegal parking a concern
A bigger issue for some businesses on Gloucester Road is the illegal parking on double yellow lines and on zig zags. Bristol Live reported in August that illegal parking was putting pedestrians at risk of injury.
Matthew, who runs The Bike Man, said that whilst his business was not impacted as much by the parking restrictions, illegal parking is causing the pavements and road to become even more dangerous. He said: “I don’t think the parking restrictions have impacted the business as a lot of my customers cycle in or walk in, a few do drive in but park nearby.
“People don’t take any notice of the parking regulations anyway, cars park up on double yellows for example, people just do what they do. Illegal parking is causing issues on the street with traffic flow, people park on the pavement and it is not safe. There’s a lot of kids around here, lots of families, so ideally there would be only feet on the pavement.”
In response to the claims raised by businesses, Bristol City Council said that the signage all conform to the legislation. It added: “Where any vehicle is found to be parking illegally or dangerously, enforcement action may be taken by Bristol City Council officers. We consistently work with our partners in the police to enforce parking rules where issues are identified.
“Gloucester Road is currently the most patrolled road in Bristol and in the last 12 months has had 2,265 visits. As Gloucester Road is a main arterial bus route into Bristol, enforcement of the parking restrictions is carried out accordingly. Residents can report abandoned or nuisance vehicles by calling the council’s operations centre on 0117 9038070.”
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