Council leaders have hit back at criticism that massive price hikes for permits in Residents’ Parking Zones (RPZs) will move the problem on to neighbouring areas. Bristol City Council cabinet approved the huge increases on Tuesday (May 6), along with a wholescale review of the entire scheme later this year.
Opposition Green councillors say the immediate impact will be to displace parking issues to residential streets just outside the zones as drivers try to avoid the higher charges – which are rising by up to 500 per cent – while still keeping their vehicles and not making the “mode change” to other forms of transport. But cabinet member for transport Cllr Don Alexander (Labour, Avonmouth & Lawrence Weston) refuted the claim, insisting the cost increases would persuade many owners to ditch the car and that councillors should have “more belief in human goodness”.
The changes, coming into force this summer, include axing the discounts for low-emission vehicles – those below 100g CO2, mainly electric vehicles, are currently free while those between 101g and 110g CO2 are half price. Permits for second cars will double in price from £112 to £224, and those for third vehicles increased from £224 to £560.
