After a two-year struggle, Bath residents in Lambridge have emerged victorious in their fight for parking permits. Under the Residents Parking Zone (RPZ) scheme, Lambridge residents were initially excluded while others in Walcot, Snow Hill, and Claremont Road were granted permits. The Green Party claims that Lambridge residents were left in “limbo,” asserting that the council’s claim of no formal requests contradicts their statements.
On Monday, March 31, the council sent an email confirming that Eastville, Eastville Lodge, and Vale View Place residents could now purchase permits. Green councillor Joanna Wright described the situation as “a textbook case of shifting goalposts” and emphasized the fundamental issue of fairness.
Green Lambridge Councillor Saskia Heijltjes criticized the two-year delay, highlighting the importance of a responsive council. Statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicate that a lower percentage of Lambridge residents drive to work compared to the national average, with nearly half working from home. Despite this, a higher proportion walk to work, and most have a commute of less than 10km.
The broader review of RPZs across North East Bath is slated to commence this summer.