Parking strategy for Bath & North East Somerset

Bath & North East Somerset Council has developed a new parking strategy which aims to balance the needs of the wide variety of communities across the district.

The strategy is based on previous public consultation and the views people have already expressed about parking. It also aims to balance the needs of local people and businesses, and a range of social, economic and environmental issues, such as air quality and congestion.

The council has set out plans for parking that fit with its wider aim to tackle congestion, improve air quality, ease parking pressures, and ensure a thriving economy that will benefit us all.

The council proposes to: prioritise the parking needs of residents and disabled users; reduce areas of congestion with the knock-on effect of better air quality; support local business; balance increased demand for parking against limited availability in the city; support the regeneration of our key towns; and tailor solutions to the needs of different areas.

The strategy is committed to ensuring that free parking continues where it’s already available to encourage patronage of local shops, restaurants and services.

Mark Shelford, cabinet member for Transport and Environment, said: “The demand for parking, and how the council can best manage this demand in the interests of residents, businesses and our environment, is one of the biggest issues affecting communities across Bath & North East Somerset.

“No single initiative can on its own reduce congestion, improve air quality and manage the increasing demand on our road networks as the area grows. Therefore, what we need are joined-up plans and incentives that encourage people to choose sustainable transport options wherever possible. At the same time, we also need to consider the important role that parking plays in supporting our local economy.

“Our proposed parking strategy therefore seeks to balance the needs of all residents, road users and local businesses, and is just one aspect of our wider approach to managing congestion whilst supporting economic growth.

“The council recently consulted with local people to gain a better understanding of how parking affects them, and their responses have been critical in shaping this strategy. We’ve done our best to balance the needs of the whole community, with the aim of putting residents, disabled users and local businesses first. The proposals contained within our draft parking strategy will now be subject to a further final round of public consultation, and so I would encourage residents, businesses and all interested parties to respond to this consultation and give their views.”