Changes to new parking charges to be introduced at 22 car parks next year

Changes have been announced to plans to introduce new parking charges across South Gloucestershire. It was revealed last month that 22 council-owned car parks across the local authority area would see parking charges introduced in spring next year.

But following the initial announcement the authority said it would be making amendments to some of the charges following discussions with stakeholders. Key changes include a reduction in price for some short-stay parking and season tickets, as well as the introduction of an additional tariff for long-stay sites.

South Gloucestershire Council had already announced that at least ten per cent of spaces in short stay car parks where charging will be introduced will remain free for 30-minute stays – and this will remain unchanged. As will plans to charge 70p for the first hour in short-stay car parks.

But the authority has decided to lower the proposed charge for up to two hours from £1.50 to £1.30, for up to three hours it will cost £3 rather than £3.50 and for stays up to four hours it will cost £4.50 rather than £5.

Parking in long-stay car parks and spaces will remain £3 for the first four hours – but a new four-to-six hour tariff will be included, charged at £4. Stays of more than six hours will be charged at £5.

The price of season tickets will be reduced from the charges originally proposed. Weekly tickets will be £20 rather than £24. Monthly tickets will be £75 rather than £90 and an annual ticket will cost £840 not £1,008. A new option of a six-monthly ticket will also be introduced and cost £435.

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There will also be changes to the way Blue Badges may be used. Initially it was proposed that blue badge holders would be able to park for free for up to four hours in designated disabled spaces in short-stay car parks only. However, following the recent engagement, holders will be able to park for free for up to four hours in any space in any car park, provided that their valid blue badge is displayed.

There will also be changes to the proposed mix of short and long-stay car parks in Yate, where there are several car parks, owned and controlled by different organisations, close to each other in the centre of town.

Specifically, both Kennedy Way and the Leisure Centre car parks in Yate were to be designated as short-stay car parks. Following the community conversations with local stakeholders, Kennedy Way will instead be classified as a long-stay car park, while the Leisure Centre car park will be divided into two sections: one for short-stay and one for long-stay parking.

Charges will apply between 8am and 6pm, Mondays to Saturdays, with parking remaining free on Sundays and Bank Holidays, excluding Park and Ride and train station car parks. The council has said current modelling for the scheme suggests it will generate an annual income of more than £800,000, and has said the introduction of charges will help protect services that residents value.

South Gloucestershire Council has also committed to proactively monitoring the impact of potential displacement parking, where drivers park in neighbouring streets to avoid charges. The council has also said further monitoring will be carried out after the scheme has been introduced so it can work with residents to identify the best ways to mitigate any changes to parking patterns locally.

The car parks set to have charges introduced are:

South Gloucestershire Council cabinet member for communities and place, Cllr Sean Rhodes, said: “It has been really important and helpful to have conversations with our communities, speaking with Town and Parish Councils, Chambers of Commerce and other stakeholder groups, about the best way to implement this scheme.

“I am pleased to say that overwhelmingly those conversations have been positive and constructive, and we have been able to make a number of improvements to the plans as a result of that engagement.

“We want to encourage users to extend their stays in our town centres, so they can linger and perhaps have a coffee or bite to eat on their shopping trip, as well as to ensure the turnover of spaces so that when you visit our local businesses, there will be a space for you in our car parks.

“We have also made it easier for disabled blue badge holders to park, and to reduce the impact of the scheme on those people, potentially workers in local businesses, who need to use the car parks regularly, by significantly reducing the price of season tickets.

“Taken together, these changes will help to ensure that our high streets continue to be well-used and that local people can continue to come and go as they wish.

“We know that a majority of people would rather not have to pay for parking here, but as we have set out, the council’s financial situation is incredibly difficult. People expect to pay for parking almost everywhere in the country and the revenue the scheme will generate was assumed in budgets set before the last council election. We are now left to find ways to balance the books. Charging for off-street parking is one of the last options available to bring in the money we need to help balance our budget.

“Every pound we make from the scheme will be a pound we don’t have to take away from the services our residents rely upon, but I am glad we have been able to have meaningful conversations with local stakeholders to make sure the final scheme does not have negative impacts on local communities, as well as bringing in vital funds.”

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