Drivers could face big increase in parking costs

Bristol City Council wants to promote sustainable travel

Drivers could face big increases to the cost of parking their cars in a city, in a bid to promote more sustainable methods of transport.

Bristol City Council is set to approve plans which will see the annual cost of residents' parking permits increase from £56 to £124 in certain zones.

Changes could also come into force for those driving to workplaces in the city, if a £20 per week workplace levy is introduced. However, a report containing the proposals also highlighted the risk that traffic may be displaced to surrounding areas with cheaper parking.

The plans are due to be discussed by the transport and connectivity committee on 12 September.

In January, the council's previous Labour administration approved - but did not implement - proposals to charge residents £178 for parking permits.

Under the latest plans, councillors will discuss the lower fee, but which is still more than double the current cost.

They are also being advised to scrap the 30-minute free parking and charge at all pay-and-display parking spots, in response to some people who "heavily abused" the system.

Resident Parking Zones were introduced in the city in 2011

The plans would scrap the free visitor permits and make drivers pay an hour’s parking, although they can stay all day for that, but the existing system where households can buy additional tickets on top of their free ones would be axed.

Also proposed is raising pay-and-display fees in Resident Parking Zones (RPZ) from £1.50 to £2 an hour, with those in Clifton Village, Clifton East and Kingsdown going up from £1.50 to £2.50 an hour, to reflect "the higher levels of demand".

If approved, the free concession will be scrapped in 12 months, while other changes will be introduced in three months.

The increases, along with other changes to council car park prices, are expected to give the council an extra £3.5m a year.

Workplace parking levy

Another move due to be debated could see about 9,000 people who work in the city charged as part of a workplace parking levy.

The previous Labour administration scrapped the scheme in 2023 over high inflation and the city's stalled underground mass transit system.

But ahead of the local elections in May, the Green Party - which is now the biggest party on Bristol City Council - included the levy in its manifesto.

Under the plans, the council would charge every business that currently offers free parking to staff.

The business could then decide to pass on the cost - £20 a week - to its employees.

A committee report said: “The introduction of a levy has other benefits associated with the reduction in car use and increase in alternative modes such as walking, cycling and public transport, such as improvements to health and the environment."

If approved, the levy would be rolled out in about three years and raise up to £10m a year, which would be spent on upgrading public transport.

Exemptions for all of the proposed changes will be available to certain groups.