Council leaders promised to make sure drivers do not leave their vehicles in residential streets as they approved massive hikes in car park charges at three beauty spots. Bristol City Council cabinet agreed increases of up to 50 per cent at Oldbury Court, Blaise Estate and Ashton Court.
Neighbours and opposition councillors say motorists are already avoiding the recently introduced pay-and-display by parking in nearby roads and causing traffic problems and nuisance for people living there. Mayor Marvin Rees and council officers insist trials of the charges, which came into force at Oldbury Court and Blaise a year ago, had shown no significant impact on visitor numbers to the parks’ cafes and kiosks, so people were now more likely to walk or cycle instead of driving.
Conservative opposition group leader Cllr Mark Weston, who represents Henbury & Brentry, said in a statement to the meeting on Tuesday, April 4, that this was not true and that the fees had created “huge problems in nearby residential streets”. He said the big price increases would “only make a bad situation worse”.
