After nearly two years of battling with the council over parking permits, Bath residents in Lambridge have achieved victory. The Residents Parking Zone (RPZ) scheme in Walcot will now allow Lambridge residents to purchase parking permits, putting an end to the long-standing struggle.
The local Green Party claims that residents in Lambridge were neglected while those in Walcot, Snow Hill, and Claremont Road were included in the scheme. The Bath and North East Somerset Council stated that Lambridge residents did not formally request to be part of the scheme during consultations, a claim disputed by the Green group.
On March 31, an email from the council confirmed that Eastville, Eastville Lodge, and Vale View Place residents could purchase permits, marking a significant breakthrough. Green councillor Joanna Wright emphasized the prolonged nature of the struggle, stating, “This has been a textbook case of shifting goalposts.”
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Green Lambridge Councillor Saskia Heijltjes added, “This simple change shouldn’t have taken two years. It’s a basic issue of fairness – and people deserve a council that listens.”
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), around 29.8% of employed Lambridge residents drive to work, which is lower than the national average of 44.5%. Nearly half of Lambridge’s employed residents work from home (49.1%), significantly higher than the national average of 31.5%. Furthermore, a larger proportion of Lambridge residents commute on foot (11.4%).
Despite the lower-than-average rate of car or van usage for commuting, the review of RPZs across North East Bath is set to begin this summer.