Could 'seasonal parking' fees be coming to city?

The introduction of extra "seasonal charges" at council car parks during a Christmas market is being considered.

Bath and North East Somerset Council is considering the parking charges during the weekends that Bath Christmas Market is on.

If adopted, the change would not apply to this year's Christmas market, which begins next month, instead coming into effect next year. People parking for four hours or more would pay an extra £1, while people parking for up to four hours would pay an additional 50p.

Cabinet member Joel Hirst said the local authority had "to make the best use of the limited space we have on our streets, while ensuring that our parking policies and charges remain fair".

The cost of parking already varies as the city was the first place in the country to introduce "emissions-based parking charges", which makes parking more expensive for more-polluting vehicles.

Bath Christmas Market brings almost half a million people to the city each year and generates about £64m for the local economy.

The proposed "seasonal parking charges" are one of a host of changes to parking that are part of a consultation running until 17:00 GMT on 3 November.

David Gladden, who has been selling wooden gifts at the Christmas market for more than 20 years, said: "It's not good for anybody involved in the market.

"It may be good for the council, who are extremely strapped for cash, despite the fact that they own approximately 80% of the commercial rental space in the centre of the city and charge a fortune for it.

Gladden went on to say that the council had had to do something to keep themselves in the black and parking was an easy hit.

Council cabinet member Joel Hirst said: "To support more sustainable travel options, we have to make the best use of the limited space we have on our streets, while ensuring that our parking policies and charges remain fair and effective for people who need to use a car."

Other proposals include increasing on-street pay-and-display charges by 10% per hour each year, extending residents' parking zones to 22:00, adding an additional band to the emissions-based parking charges, and ending free parking at the Weymouth Street car park in Walcot and Church Road car park in Weston.

The council also wants to double the cost of permits at five local car parks.

The proposals would come into effect in the 2027/28 financial year, if adopted by the council.

Hirst said: "We want to know what residents think about the changes we are proposing and all the feedback we get will help inform any decisions we make."

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