A resident living on the edge of the Clean Air Zone has said he is worried parking will become even worse once the scheme starts. They went as far as comparing Bristol to London, saying "you can not go anywhere without getting charged".
Reflecting the views being heard across the city, Barton Hill residents have expressed different views about the scheme. While some welcome the CAZ, some are worried it will have a detrimental effect on the area as drivers may park there to avoid the charges.
The scheme will be launching on November 28 - over a year late. Bristol City Council is legally required to introduce measures to cut harmful air pollution from vehicles driving in the city centre. Michael Williams, of Bright Street, said that parking in the area is already a problem. Mr Williams said he has lived in the area for 20 years and it has got a lot busier over time.
Read next: Bristol Clean Air Zone 'may be the last thing we need', says business owner
"There is no space, it is packed," he said. "There is nowhere to park on a day to day basis and it [the CAZ] is going to exacerbate this and make it worse.
"We already get people who park here to go to work in town. You can see them park in the morning and then walk down to get the bus or train as it is a free zone."
The Barton Hill resident claimed that people living in the nearby tower blocks also park on the street as the car park at the tower block is not big enough. Mr Williams said he thinks a residents' parking scheme would make a big difference.
"At certain times of the time, you can not move," he said. "I will need to change how I go into town myself as I have an old car. I will probably get the bus or buy an e-bike or e-scooter. Bristol is becoming like London - you can not go anywhere without getting charged."
Wen, of Morton Street, said people already park on her street to get the train, the bus or to get into town for work or to do some shopping. The Barton Hill resident said she is also worried it is going to get worse once the Clean Air Zone starts.
"Everyone is going to be parking here to avoid the CAZ," she said. "It already happens all the time that people park in front of our garage. People here are already worried about the CAZ.
"We can understand the school run as this is a family area and we do not mind that, but the issue is when people leave their cars here for the day. There are confrontations nearly every day."
The resident said she is often unable to use the pavement by her house due to overgrown vegetation and cars being parked on the pavement. This then forces people to have to walk on the road, she said, which is not safe.
Wen said she would not support a residents' parking scheme being introduced as she thinks people should be able to park outside their homes for free. However, she said she thinks the street should be made one-way and a 20mph speed limit be introduced, while drivers should obey the rules such as not parking on a dropped kerb.
However, a Victoria Avenue resident said he was not worried about parking and said that he thinks the CAZ is a good initiative. The resident said their street is already full of cars and that he doesn't know what is going to happen next month.
"We have a car but we do not use it that much," he said. "I think the CAZ is a good thing. I worry about air quality and they definitely need to do something about it. They also need to reduce road traffic and the fewer car journeys, the better. I hope the CAZ will have a measurable impact, but we will see."
Bristol City Council was approached for comment.
Read next:
