Lib Dems: £1 fee for all Bath car parks after 6pm

10.56.14am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 10th Jul 2008

Liberal Democrats are calling for a flat fee of £1 for parking after 6 p.m. to apply in all car parks in Bath.

Don Foster MP and Cllrs Paul Crossley, Andy Furse, Caroline Roberts, Ian Gilchrist and Neil Butters call for the £1 fee to apply to all car parks

The B&NES Cabinet member for customer services is considering a proposal to apply a flat fee of £1 for car parking from 6 p.m. to midnight, 7 days a week in Avon and Charlotte Street car parks. This proposal replaces his previous, unpopular decision to extend day time parking charges to 8 p.m.

However Liberal Democrats are calling for him to extend the £1 fee to all car parks in Bath, not just Avon Street and Charlotte Street as in the current draft.

Councillor Ian Gilchrist (Widcombe), who opposed the original decision on parking costs, commented, "There was massive public opposition to the decision to extend parking charges, including the campaign by the Chronicle which led to the Cabinet member's u-turn.

"The proposal for a £1 flat fee after 6 seems like a reasonable compromise but we are concerned that a two-tier system, with one price for in Avon and Charlotte Street car parks and a different price in the pay and display car parks, will be confusing for people who do not know Bath well and will lead to some people paying more than they should.

"We expect that there will be an opportunity to address some of the other problems arising from of the Cabinet member's original decision, such as charging for blue badge holders, when the Council carries out the full review of parking policy over the coming months."

City MP Don Foster, who also campaigned for the extended hours to be dropped, added, "To have the different for tariff for only two car parks seems to me to be unfair. I have previously highlighted the issue of special constables, who park at Manvers Street next to the police station. This proposal won't help them; it will be punishing those who volunteer their time to help our city.

"In addition, people who are less mobile may need to be able to park nearer to their destination than Avon Street or Charlotte Street; they will be unfairly punished. I am calling on the Cabinet Member to make this policy fair to everyone and for the £1 fee to be introduced in all car parks in Bath after 6 p.m."

City-centre Councillor Andrew Furse (Kingsmead) added, "There is already a fair amount of confusion over parking prices and the two-tier system under consideration could lead to more parking tickets being issued especially if visitors get muddled.

"There is still time to urge the Cabinet member to alter this proposal and we encourage anyone who has concerns to write to the Cabinet Member for Customer Services at B&NES."