10p-an-hour parking won for visitors in city centre

Visitors to an affluent part of Bath can now park for 10p an hour after successful lobbying by city centre resident associations.

The Circus Area Residents Association (Cara) secured the reduced rate from Bath and North East Somerset Council on a trial basis.

It comprises residents living around The Circus and Assembly Rooms, including Queen’s Parade, Gay Street, George Street, Lansdown Road, Julian Road, Crescent Lane, Upper Church Street and Brock Street.

In a bulletin to members, the association said: “Cara has, with neighbouring residents associations, secured new visitor parking arrangements for our members and other local residents.

“Effective 4th March, residents will, under a trial, be able to apply for electronic visitor parking permits that they can use for their guests to park in the Lower Lans- down Central Zone.

“Residents will be eligible for up to 100 hours per annum of visitor parking permits.

“The cost will be only 10 pence per hour (compared to the existing Cara-only scheme at £5 per day).

“These arrangements will replace the previous paper-based permits available (note: existing paper visitor parking permits will remain valid until the expiry date printed on the permit).”

The visitor parking permits are bought online using Mipermit, and represent a considerable discount for those using them.

On-street parking charges are classified into different tariff bands and many of the streets within Cara’s remit fall into the the tariff three ‘ultra premium zone’.

B&NES Council introduced new fees last August 13 in the biggest shake-up of council parking charges for eight years.

Speaking at the time, the council’s transport chief Cllr Mark Shelford said the pricing changes had been made to make people “think about not coming into the centre of town by car and find sustainable methods”.

As a result of the changes, parking in Brock Street costs £3.40 for the first hour, rising to £4.50 for two hours and £5.60 for three.

In comparison, the 10p-an-hour rate would let friends and family of Cara residents park for £10 for 100 hours.

Cara said on Facebook: “We’re content with the new arrangements, and have already had residents purchasing them online and congratulating the committee.”

Cara was created more than 20 years ago “to represent the views of people who live and work in the Circus area”. It costs £7.50 a year to be a member.

On its Facebook page, Cara lists visitor parking permits for its residential members among its achievements. Others include installation of three additional street lights in the Circus and a commemorative bench installed on the Circus Green to mark the John Wood bicentenary

A spokeswoman for B&NES Council said: “We are introducing visitor parking permits in Bath’s Central Zone on an 18-month trial basis.

“The visitor permits will only be available to residential properties and visitor parking will be restricted to 100 hours per year.

“The permits will be available online via Mipermit atwww.wanttopark.com/bathnes.”

We’re content with the new arrangements, and have already had residents purchasing them online and congratulating the committee.