Have your say on major parking permit changes
A consultation has been launched that could see huge changes to car permits in Bath and North East Somerset.
Bath and North East Somerset Council is asking residents for their views on a series of proposed changes to on-street parking across the region.
In a four-week consultation, which began last week and runs until midnight on May 24, people are being asked what they think about proposals to base residents’ parking permit charges on vehicle emissions and changes to move long-stay visitor parking to offstreet car parks.
Although the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) is the regional transport authority, these proposals have been developed by the council to improve air quality, aiming to create a safer environment for pedestrians by reducing the risks to them posed by air pollution, while also meeting the council’s wider transport policy aims.
A council spokesman said: “These proposals are designed to complement the council’s ongoing work to improve air quality, cut congestion and reduce vehicle intrusion into neighbourhoods.
“We want to hear what people think of them and how they will be impacted by the proposals. Please take part and have your say.”
One of the main changes proposed is the introduction of emissions-based parking permits for all residents’ parking zones to improve air quality and encourage people to switch to low-emission vehicles where owning a vehicle is essential.
Residents’ parking permit prices have not been reviewed since 2013.
Vehicles would be placed in a charging band according to their recorded CO2 emissions with the DVLA. Residents can check DVLA records to confirm their emissions, or engine capacity at: www.gov.uk/ get-vehicle-information-from-dvla
Under the proposal the base price of a residents’ parking permit would remain at £100 a year with a second permit costing £160 where the most polluting vehicle on the permit emits less than 131g/km of CO2.
Charges for higher polluting vehicles would increase by five per cent for each subsequent emissions band. Diesel vehicles would be subject to an additional 25 per cent surcharge in order to reduce NO2 emissions in the shortest possible time.
Where an emissions rating is not available, including vehicles registered before 2001, charges would be based on engine capacity on a similar sliding scale.
As well as moving to an emissions-based residents’ parking permit scheme other proposed changes include:
Residents’ parking visitor permit charges to be increased by 50p a day in year one with subsequent rises of 25p a day in years two and three;
A review of hotel, guest house and holiday let permits – to reallocate the parking to car parks and to include the introduction of digitised permits;
A review of medical permits – to include the introduction of digitised permits to counter misuse and an increase to bring the charge inline with residents’ permits;
An increase in trade permit charges;
The introduction of half-day paper visitor permits to support vulnerable residents unable to access the financial savings offered by digital permits.
Money raised from the proposals would pay for their implementation and running costs with any surplus used to support the development of sustainable transport schemes across Bath and North East Somerset.
To view the proposals and take part in the consultation go to: https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/ parking-permits-consultationapril-2021
Due to Covid-19 restrictions the council has adapted its consultation to online methods, so you can see proposals and provide feedback safely.
To request another format or a paper copy if you do not have internet access, contact Council Connect on 01225 394041 or email parking_consultation@bathnes. gov.uk
This is the first phase of the consultation. Once complete the results will be published on the council’s website with a decision on the final proposals to be made at a cabinet meeting.