Bath and North East Somerset Council has decided to abandon its plan to introduce Saturday parking charges at the Bath Hill East Car Park in Keynsham. Originally, the council aimed to end free Saturday parking, but following feedback from residents and local businesses, the proposal has been scrapped. Concerns were raised about potential negative impacts on town centre footfall and affordability.
The Saturday parking charge was the only proposal dropped among several parking-related changes being considered across the district. These included increasing resident parking permit fees for larger vehicles and raising Park & Ride charges for those who park but do not use bus services. Despite the plan receiving the least opposition, with only 29% objecting, the council took community feedback seriously.
A council report, which utilized generative AI to analyze consultation responses, highlighted worries that introducing charges could reduce attendance at Keynsham Farmer’s Market and other local businesses, discourage park usage, and push drivers to nearby alternatives such as Longwell Green or Cribbs Causeway.
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The council is now moving forward with a fresh consultation on the other proposed parking changes. Nearly 500 people participated in the initial consultation. Joel Hirst, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport Strategy, emphasized the council’s commitment to public input: “We want to hear as many voices as possible, that’s why we decided to consult again on these changes via a formal traffic regulation order.”
One of the most contentious proposals is revising resident parking permits by vehicle size. The plan offers discounts for smaller vehicles but increases fees significantly for larger ones. For example, a Smart car owner would receive a £20 annual discount, whereas the owner of the largest Ford Transit model would pay £112 more per year. The council justifies this by citing studies showing that larger vehicles, like SUVs and vans, pose greater risks in collisions with pedestrians and cyclists, due to factors like bonnet height and increased blind spots.
Additional proposed changes include raising the cost of visitor RPZ permits over the next three years, requiring vehicles to have a valid MOT for permit eligibility, and increasing the charge for parking at Bath’s Park & Ride lots from £3 to £4 when users do not take the bus.
This latest consultation will remain open until 5pm on 18 June.