Bath & North East Somerset Council is inviting residents to have their say on proposals that they state are designed to improve road safety, encourage sustainable travel, and ensure the long-term financial sustainability of its parking services.
Two public consultations are now open:
and;
B&NES Council’s Preliminary consultation on parking charges, 2026-27
TRO consultation 2025-26
View information on B&NES Council’s website page: B&NES Council’s Traffic Regulation Order Consultation: Review of on-street parking permit charges (2025-26) Online responses can also be submitted via this B&NES Council webpage.
One key proposal included in the consultation is to increase the baseline cost of on-street residents’ parking permits, which has remained unchanged for over a decade. B&NES Council has shared that the increase reflects the rising costs of maintaining and enforcing Residents Parking Zones (RPZs). In addition, permit costs would be adjusted across emission-based bands, so vehicles with higher emissions would pay more, supporting cleaner air initiatives.
TRO 25-051 proposals include:
- ~ An increase in the baseline charge for on-street parking permits from £100 to £120 for an annual permit (20%), with corresponding increases across bands where permit charges are emission based.
- ~ Where an on-street permit charge does not align to the £100 baseline charge its charge will be increased by an equivalent 20%.
- ~ Removal of the 50% discount for EV vehicles
Preliminary consultation 2026-27
A separate, preliminary consultation can be found on B&NES Council’s Preliminary consultation on parking charges, 2026-27 page. Residents can also respond to B&NES Council via this page.
B&NES Council is seeking views on potential updates to RPZ tariffs for 2026/27, which would be subject to formal consultation later this year. B&NES council proposes to introduce an annual review of permit charges, linked to inflation, into the Fees and Charges process as part of B&NES Council’s annual budget setting to be agreed by Full Council from April 2026.
B&NES Council is also consulting on introducing
- ~ A small increase in the cost of RPZ visitors’ parking permits, introduced over three years
- ~ The introduction of Saturday parking charges at Bath Hill East car park, Keynsham
- ~ An increase in the 24-hour parking charge at Park & Ride sites from £3 to £4 for motorists not using the bus service to free up space for bus users
The TRO consultation 2025-6 and the Preliminary consultation 2026-27 run until 7 November. Full details are available at www.bathnes.gov.uk/2025parkingreview
SPC to respond to both consultations at its November 2025 meeting
Saltford has one Residents Parking Zone (RPZ).
SPC’s response to both B&NES Council’s consultations (TRO consultation and preliminary consultation 2026-27) will be an item to resolve on SPC’s 4 November meeting agenda, should the Parish Council view to submit a response to any part of either consultation.
Details about SPC’s meetings can be found on its ‘Meetings – Agendas and Minutes‘ page.
Permit holders will be notified via MiPermit and email. For support, contact B&NES Council’s Parking Services on 01225 477133.
Help to take part in consultations is also available at B&NES libraries and information services.
The following press release from B&NES Council was received to SPC on 17 October 2025:
Residents invited to have their say on parking service updates and new RPZs
Bath & North East Somerset Council is inviting residents to comment on proposals aimed at improving road safety, supporting sustainable travel, and ensuring the financial sustainability of its parking services.
One proposal is to increase the baseline cost of an on-street parking permit which has not changed for over a decade, despite the rising costs of maintenance and enforcement of residents parking zones (RPZs). There would also be a proportional uplift across the emission-based bands for residents which support cleaner air.
RPZs are central to the council’s sustainable transport strategy. They help reduce commuter and anti-social parking, improve safety, and make it easier for residents to park near their homes, while supporting visitors and local businesses. However, RPZs must cover their own running costs. The proposal is for the baseline charges for permits to increase by 20%.
To ensure fairer contributions from EV owners, B&NES Council also proposes removing the discount for electric vehicle (EV) permits, aligning them with the tariff for the least polluting vehicles.
The proposals outlined above were approved by Full Council in February and would take effect this year, subject to the outcome of the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) consultation.
In a separate, preliminary consultation, B&NES Council is seeking views on potential updates to RPZ tariffs for 2026/27, which would be subject to formal consultation later this year.
A key proposal in this consultation is to link residents’ permit costs to vehicle size to improve road safety. The aim is to encourage ownership of smaller, safer vehicles that reduce the risk of serious accidents and cause less obstruction on narrow streets.
Smaller vehicles would receive a discount, while some larger models would incur an additional charge on top of any existing emission-based fees. The council also proposes only issuing permits to vehicles with a valid MOT, helping reduce risks from unsafe or potentially uninsured vehicles.
A modest increase in the cost of a visitors parking permit will also be introduced over three years from £1 to £2.50 per day by 2028.
For B&NES Council car parks and Park & Ride sites, changes include introducing Saturday charging at Bath Hill car park in Keynsham; and increasing the 24-hour rate at Park & Ride sites from £3 to £4 for motorists who don’t use the bus service.
B&NES Council is also launching the first of three consultations on new or extended RPZs to help tackle growing pressure on on-street parking. These are proposed for the Lambridge, Locksbrook and Audley Grove areas of Bath. In July, the council asked residents in Southdown and Moorlands for their views on an RPZ and is considering the outcomes.
From October 17, residents and businesses in Lambridge can give their views on a draft RPZ design bordered by Valley View Road in the north and London Road in the south, including a proposed extension of Walcot’s RPZ into Grosvenor Place.
A formal statutory consultation will follow next year. Initial consultations on RPZs for Locksbrook and the Audley Grove area will launch later in the Autumn.
B&NES Council Councillor Joel Hirst, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport Strategy, said:
“We’ve timed these consultations to run together so Lambridge residents can consider the full picture, including potential costs, while reviewing the proposed zone.
“Many residents want action on commuter parking. Introducing a zone can help address this, improve safety, and support a shift to more sustainable travel.
“The proposed increase on baseline permit costs ensures those who benefit from RPZs contribute fairly to their upkeep. The baseline hasn’t changed in over 10 years and needs to reflect current pressures. The corresponding uplift on existing emissions-based pricing means more polluting vehicles pay more, supporting cleaner transport.
“Linking permit costs to vehicle size is about safety. Vehicles are getting bigger. And research tells us that pedestrians and cyclists are 44% more likely to be killed or seriously injured if hit by a large vehicle, rising to over 80% for children. This supports our Vision Zero goal to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on our roads.”
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