Bath parking permit fees now based on vehicle size
Bath residents face higher parking permit fees, with charges now based on vehicle size, under new council rules.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Bath residents who pay to park outside their homes are now charged according to the size of their vehicle, under new rules that came into force today. Bath and North East Somerset Council says the change is fairer and that it consulted the public before introducing it.
The new system applies to residential parking permits across the city. In Oldfield Park, for example, Zone 28 operates between 8am and 6pm, with permit holders only. The cost of a permit was already based on a vehicle's emissions level, but from today a surcharge based on the vehicle's physical footprint has been added.
The council argues that larger cars are potentially more polluting and potentially more dangerous. But opinions among residents are mixed. One person said: "I think that's fair enough, because obviously a larger vehicle takes up more space and is more difficult for other cars to manoeuvre around." Another disagreed: "It seems totally unfair that they're doing that. I already pay for a resident's permit, and I think it's going up by 20% today, so I don't think it's right."
From today, the baseline cost for a resident's parking permit is £120. However, drivers of small electric cars could receive a discount, while those with larger, more polluting vehicles could end up paying up to £400 a year just for the pleasure of parking. The council says residents can check how much their permit will cost online, or if they prefer, they can get the tape measure out.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One |
|---|---|
| A larger, more polluting vehicle could cost up to £400 a year for a parking permit. | |
| Bath and North East Somerset Council said the new parking permit system is fairer and that it consulted the public. | |
| The baseline cost for a resident's parking permit is £120 from today. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report focuses on the local impact of the new parking permit charges, using a specific street in Bath to illustrate the change. It balances the council's justification with on-the-street public opinion, and gives practical details about the new costs and how residents can check them.
- “I think that's fair enough, because obviously a larger vehicle takes up more space and is more difficult for other cars to manoeuvre around.”
- “It seems totally unfair that they're doing that. I already pay for a resident's permit, and I think it's going up by 20% today, so I don't think it's right.”
- “The council say you can check how much it'll cost online, or if you'd rather, you can just get the tape measure out.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.