Residents Parking Zones go live in Bath from today
If you live in the city or commute from Bristol or Somerset, drivers need to be aware of the changes implemented by B&NES Council
Last updated 9th Jun 2024
After months of planning and consultations, five Bath residents’ parking zones go live from today (Monday, February 20).
That means - put simply - to park your car in those specific areas, you'll need a digital permit to do so.
In addition to the permits, some areas also offer dual use and limited waiting bays are also available in some areas, and residents can purchase digital permits for visitors and tradespeople - but for commuters who might come from Bristol or Somerset, you will have to take note of the changes which are now the rules in Bath.
How the RPZs will work
The RPZs and single yellow lines will operate between 8am to 6pm, 7 days a week, not including bank holidays.
Meanwhile, double yellow and disabled parking bays operate at all times unless a sign indicates otherwise.
Blue badge holders in B&NES can park in any RPZ across the area provided they display their badge. However, the council say they have also worked closely with residents to maintain Blue Badge advisory bays and plated bays outside homes where required.
For people working in trades, medical and social care and in local businesses can apply for trade and commercial parking permits in the zones to avoid parking fines.
The aim of the zones
The zones have been developed to reduce pressure on parking where commuter parking is an issue.
They're also being implemented to give priority to residents so they can park near their homes.
It's also hoped the scheme will help to tackle anti-social driving and parking, as well as help the council with their Net Zero Carbon and vehicle emission policies.
The five new zones are in the following areas:
• St John’s Road, St Michael’s Road and Hungerford Road area
• Chelsea Road and Foxcombe Road area
• Sion Hill and Summerhill Road area
• Entry Hill area
• Lyme Gardens and Charmouth Road area
The larger Walcot, Snow Hill and Claremont Road RPZ and the Oldfield Park and Westmoreland area RPZ will be installed later in the year as their size and complexity is better suited to installation during the summer months.
Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for Transport, said: “Five zones have been installed and will go live from Monday February 20. I’d like to thank residents for their cooperation and patience during the installation of the zones, which involved temporary road closures and parking suspensions.
“While letters and advice have been sent to residents and businesses in all five areas anyone who wants advice about the scheme in their area can call 01225 394 025 or visit www.bathnes.gov.uk/LNRPZ for more information.
“The seven zones were proposed by ward councillors on behalf of their communities followed by extensive consultation. We heard from many residents that struggled to find parking near their homes, and also from local businesses who were keen to see more dual-use and limited waiting bays available near their shops. We have therefore worked hard to strike a balance between the needs of residents and local businesses.
“We know the zones may have an impact on other areas and again I want to remind people that they can request their own RPZs, via ward councillors, if there is a significant and lasting displacement of vehicles into neighbouring areas as a result of the new zones.”
There were a number of public consultations published in 2022 before the implementation of the RPZ schemes.
After these consultations, some plans were modified - with changed including reductions in the size of some of the proposed zones, improvements to signage and road marking proposals, installing more dual-use bays to support local businesses, and additional tailored amends to ensure the proposals work as well as possible for everyone in the community.
Under the new RPZ policy, the annual permit cost can vary depending on your vehicle’s emissions but, as a guide, a permit for an average eight-year-old 1.6L petrol or diesel family car would normally cost in the range of £100 to £125 per year.
Permits are limited to two permits per property. Properties with one off-street parking space are limited to one permit, and properties with two off-street spaces are not eligible for permits.
If you want to find out more about the RPZs which are coming into force, information is available here.