Bristol workplace parking levy dropped
Inflation and a 'stalled' underground system is being blamed
Last updated 20th Jun 2024
Bristol plan for workplace parking levy dropped due to inflation and ‘stalled’ underground
A plan for a workplace parking levy has been dropped due to inflation and a lack of “funding and ambition” for a mass transit system. Bristol mayor Marvin Rees said “now is not the time” to create further costs for drivers already struggling with the cost of living crisis.
Details of the workplace parking levy plan were finally published on Monday, August 7, after a judge ordered Bristol City Council to publish its report into how it could work. The report found a levy could raise millions every year to invest in the city’s public transport network.
A workplace parking levy would charge businesses for every employee parking at work, in a bid to encourage commuters to use public transport and cut congestion and pollution. A levy in Nottingham introduced a decade ago has raised more than £83 million for improving public transport.
Writing on his blog, Mr Rees said: “With high inflation during a national cost of living crisis, now is not the time to create more costs for people. Others will say that today is an ideal moment to hit teachers, nurses and other Bristolians parking at schools, hospitals and other workplaces in central Bristol for hundreds of pounds, if not more. They are wrong.
“Bristol has in recent years, like the rest of the world, seen major changes in working patterns during and following the pandemic. These patterns will also have been impacted by the introduction of the Clean Air Zone, for which our administration recently secured another £11 million to help people and businesses upgrade to compliant vehicles.
“A study was done into the idea of a workplace parking levy, which is lacking any modelling incorporating those major factors for its potential effectiveness. It remains incomplete and — with the current stalling of the funding and ambition to take a mass transit system forward — we have no plans to introduce this charge.”
The council initially commissioned the report, at a cost of £30,000, in 2021 as a potential option for funding upgrades to Bristol’s public transport network. Since then the council has been battling a freedom of information request, on the grounds that it was informing policy development and part of a wider piece of work, which was yet to be published.
The freedom of information request was made by Green Councillor Ed Plowden, representing Windmill Hill. When his request was repeatedly refused by the council and the Information Commissioner, he appealed to the information rights tribunal who sided with him earlier this summer. He said a levy could be used for “transformational transport changes”.
Writing on Twitter, Cllr Plowden said: “Glad that the report has finally been released after I had to get a judge’s order to do so. Sad to see it done with such bad grace when the administration stated in 2021 it should be debated in public. Please don’t believe any twisting or misrepresentation of Bristol Greens policy.
“Bristol Greens need time to consider this report, and may well be underwhelmed by it after such a fight to get to see it. But be very clear: if we ever consider this approach, we absolutely would use any revenue raised to support transformational and rapid transport changes.”
The long-awaited report was produced by Nottingham City Council — which itself introduced a workplace parking levy in 2012, although this isn’t charged to the NHS. Money raised has been spent on electric buses, expanding a tram line and regenerating a train station.
A levy in Bristol would likely be charged on about 9,000 parking spaces at city centre workplaces, according to the report. While up-to-date estimates for charges or revenue weren’t given, the report noted that an annual First Bus travel pass in Bristol used to cost £715 — which “should be taken into account” when setting the rate charged with a parking levy.
The report said: “Bristol City Council is well positioned to progress with the development of a workplace parking levy. The drive, vision and ambition of Bristol City Council is exciting and will clearly lead to a high quality, sustainable transport system in Bristol.”
You can read more about the feasibility report here.
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