Parking charges up as revamp promised

PARKING charges at Vassalls Park are set to rocket - just over a year after they were brought in.

The cost of an hour's parking will rise from £1 to £1.50, two hours rises from £2 to £2.50 and the £3 maximum for up to five hours goes up to £3.50, with a four-hour limit.

Mayor Marvin Rees said the money raised at the Oldbury Court Estate and Snuff Mills car parks will go into maintaining parks - and announced a £500,000 investment in play facilities and improving access to Vassalls.

The increase was confirmed at a council cabinet meeting in April, which was told trials had shown no significant impact on visitor numbers to park cafes and kiosks.

But neighbours and opposition councillors say motorists already avoid pay-and-display charges at Oldbury Court, Blaise Castle and Ashton Court by parking outside.

Conservative group leader Mark Weston said the fees had created “huge problems in nearby residential streets”.

He said the big price increases would “only make a bad situation worse”.

Labour cabinet member for communities and Hillfields councillor Ellie King said she was aware of complaints about parking in neighbouring streets, which had been raised by Oldbury Court residents, and the situation would be monitored.

Disability campaigner David Redgewell told the meeting access to parks for disabled people needed to be improved.

Mr Rees said: “We are approving today £500,000 investment for Oldbury Court in play facilities and improving access to the estate, and as part of the design and delivery of the work we will engage with stakeholders to identify what we should prioritise for disabled visitors.

"The council has already committed £220,000 at Oldbury Court to improve a stretch of footpath along the River Frome and widen the Halfpenny Bridge to Snuff Mills.

“So there is work ongoing, but we will partner with constructive city partners to make sure that’s done as well.”

Charges were introduced for the first time in March last year. A council spokesperson said no date had yet been set for the increase to come into force.

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service