South Gloucestershire Council is making amendments to its proposals for off-street parking charges following helpful engagement with Town and Parish Councils, Chambers of Commerce and other key stakeholders across the district.
Key changes include an adjustment to the tariff. With at least 10 per cent of spaces in short-stay car parks remaining free for stays of up to 30 minutes, and the first hour being charged at just 70p, following useful discussions with local stakeholders across South Gloucestershire, there will be a change to the costs for longer stays. These will be £1.30 for up to two hours, £3 for up to three hours and £5 for stays up to four hours in short-stay car parks.
Parking in long-stay car parks and spaces will remain £3.00 for the first four hours; however a new 4–6-hour tariff will be included, charged at £4.00, and stays of more than six hours will be charged at £5.00.
The price of season tickets will be reduced from the charges originally proposed. Weekly tickets will be £20; monthly tickets will be £75.00; a new option of a six-monthly ticket will be £435; and annual tickets will be £840.00.
There will also be changes to the way Blue Badges may be used. Initially it was proposed that blue badge holders would be able to park for free for up to four hours in designated disabled spaces in short-stay car parks only. However, following the recent engagement, holders will be able to park for free for up to four hours in any space in any car park, provided that their valid blue badge is displayed.
There will also be changes to the proposed mix of short and long-stay car parks in Yate, where there are several car parks, owned and controlled by different organisations, close to each other in the centre of town. Specifically, both Kennedy Way and the Leisure Centre car parks in Yate were to be designated as short-stay car parks. Following the community conversations with local stakeholders, Kennedy Way will be classified as a long-stay car park, while the Leisure Centre car park will be divided into two sections: one for short-stay and one for long-stay parking. These changes have been made to better balance the availability of different spaces and provide more flexibility for both short and long visits in Yate.
The council has also committed to proactively monitoring the impact of potential displacement parking, where drivers park in neighbouring streets to avoid charges. Those roads where displacement parking is most likely will be monitored to assess current parking trends, so that we can identify the impact of introducing the scheme. Further monitoring will be carried out after the scheme has been introduced so that we can work with residents to identify the best ways to mitigate any changes to parking patterns locally.
South Gloucestershire Council Cabinet Member for Communities and Place, Councillor Sean Rhodes, said: “It has been really important and helpful to have conversations with our communities, speaking with Town and Parish Councils, Chambers of Commerce and other stakeholder groups, about the how best to implement this scheme.
“I am pleased to say that overwhelmingly those conversations have been positive and constructive, and we have been able to make a number of improvements to the plans as a result of that engagement.
“We want to encourage users to extend their stays in our town centres, so they can linger and perhaps have a coffee or bite to eat on their shopping trip, as well as to ensure the turnover of spaces so that when you visit our local businesses, there will be a space for you in our car parks.
“We have also made it easier for disabled blue badge holders to park, and to reduce the impact of the scheme on those people, potentially workers in local businesses, who need to use the car parks regularly, by significantly reducing the price of season tickets.
“Taken together, these changes will help to ensure that our high streets continue to be well-used and that local people can continue to come and go as they wish.
“We know that a majority of people would rather not have to pay for parking here, but as we have set out, the council’s financial situation is incredibly difficult. People expect to pay for parking almost everywhere in the country and the revenue the scheme will generate was assumed in budgets set before the last council election. We are now left to find ways to balance the books. Charging for off-street parking is one of the last options available to bring in the money we need to help balance our budget.
“Every pound we make from the scheme will be a pound we don’t have to take away from the services our residents rely upon, but I am glad we have been able to have meaningful conversations with local stakeholders to make sure the final scheme does not have negative impacts on local communities, as well as bringing in vital funds.”
For more information about the scheme, which will be introduced in Spring 2025, is available with an updated set of FAQs on the council website: www.southglos.gov.uk/parking-charges-FAQs
