Bath residents are facing a controversial shake-up to parking rules after Bath and North East Somerset Council proposed charging for permits based on vehicle size. The consultation, billed as a safety and sustainability measure, would hit larger petrol and diesel cars with higher fees while offering discounts to compact vehicles.
How the new size-based permits would work
The council’s draft scheme measures vehicle footprint by multiplying length and width, excluding mirrors. Vehicles would fall into one of 11 charging bands.
- Small cars would qualify for a discount on a first residents’ permit.
- Larger vehicles would pay progressively higher fees, including steeper charges for second permits.
- A valid MOT would become a condition for permit eligibility.
Specific cost examples and bands to watch
To illustrate the proposals, the council provided sample costs for common models and band thresholds.
Sample charges highlighted by the council
- Smallest vehicles (up to 5 sqm): £20 discount on a first permit.
- Diesel BMW X1 Xdrive18D Xline Auto: first permit around £16.16, second permit jumps to £80.80.
- Ford Focus Zetec petrol: estimated first permit £17.52, second permit £87.60.
- Largest vehicles (over 14 sqm): maximum extra charge of £112.08 for a first permit and £308.22 for a second.
Park and Ride, local streets and other operational changes
The consultation also targets longer-stay parking and some city-centre adjustments.
- Changing the cost of 24-hour parking at Bath’s three Park and Ride sites to discourage leaving cars all day if you don’t use the bus.
- Proposed parking charges on Weston Road in Bath.
- Alterations to permit parking on Monmouth Street to support Avon and Somerset Police moving into the city centre.
- Operational updates to some council car parks.
Who is affected and who is excluded
The council says the rules will primarily hit larger petrol and diesel models, but there are protections.
- Blue Badge holders living in residents’ zones would be exempt from the new size-related charges.
- Residents would need to show a valid MOT to obtain or renew permits, a move the council argues will remove unsafe or uninsured vehicles from the roads.
Public reaction and consultation results so far
An earlier public engagement closed in November 2025. The council reports mixed views.
- About 50% of respondents backed introducing either size-based charges or discounts for residents’ permits.
- Roughly 38% supported increasing the 24-hour Park and Ride charge from £3 to £4 for motorists not using the bus service.
Council reasoning: safety, sustainability and revenue
Officials argue the plan tackles multiple goals. They say larger vehicles are more likely to cause serious injury to pedestrians and cyclists in collisions. The council frames the changes as a nudge toward safer, smaller, and cleaner cars while helping to sustain parking services financially.
“Introducing supplementary charges for larger vehicles and discounts for smaller ones will encourage the uptake of safer, smaller, and cleaner vehicles,” the council said.
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