The days of free Sunday parking in more than 1,000 on-street parking spaces in central Bath are numbered. 

While not yet finalised, seven-day charges were part of a raft of measures approved by cabinet members in July, alongside emissions-based fees for residents’ permits and a major shakeup of parking arrangements for hotels. 

B&NES Council has already consulted on the measures – designed to encourage uptake of lower emission vehicles – but residents and businesses can comment on proposed traffic regulation orders until November 11th. 

Here’s what is on the cards: Sunday charges: There are more than 1,000 on-street parking bays in Bath that charge from 8 am to 7 pm Monday to Saturday. The same charging hours are set to be introduced on Sundays. The Council previously said the extra charges were expected to bring in an additional £85,000 in the first year. 

The 10 per cent discount offered to Bath residents when they pay for on-street parking in the city is set to be scrapped. 

Emissions-based charges: In Bath, permits currently cost £100 a year for the first and £160 for the second, while in Keynsham residents pay £40 and £50 respectively.  The Council says some residents will see a significant rise in the cost of their permits – depending on the vehicle’s emissions, they will cost £50 per year or as much as £400 for the worst polluting diesels.However, in a trial running until March, drivers of zero-emission vehicles will be offered permits for just £10 on a first-come, first-served basis. Other permit costs are also set to increase over the next three years. 

Permit eligibility: In most areas of B&NES, residents are entitled to up to two parking permits. Under the new proposals, residents with driveways, garages or other off-street private parking within the curtilage of their property will be able to get fewer permits than those without. 

Visit https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/parking-tro-consultation-autumn-2021 to respond to the consultation. The phased implementation of the proposals will begin in January.

S. Sumner, LDRS