More Bristol drivers face paying to park outside their homes in major shake-up – see if your area’s affected

New resident parking zones are planned in places like Ashley Down, Bishopston, Easton and St Werburghs over the next few years.

Transport planners at Bristol City Council hope that the new and expanded zones will tackle parking pressures and reduce the number of trips taken by people driving cars. Residents are charged for a permit to park, preventing other drivers from clogging up roads near their homes.

Several resident parking zones already exist across the city, but parking is often a problem just outside these areas. Councillors on the transport policy committee will consider plans to create new zones on Thursday, October 23.

A committee report said: “Resident parking scheme expansion is being proposed now to help tackle increasing pressure on parking, support cleaner air, and make neighbourhoods safer and fairer for everyone. This will in turn make parking easier.”

The first parking permits were rolled out more than a decade ago around the city centre, to address pressures from commuters parking on residential roads then walking to work. The programme was then expanded to several neighbourhoods like Redland, Southville, St Pauls and Cotham.

A further roll-out was planned but then scrapped in 2016 by the former Labour mayor Marvin Rees, when he first took control of the council. Areas then planned included St Andrews, St Werburghs, Ashley Down, Bishopston, Windmill Hill, Totterdown, Ashton and Bedminster West. These areas still suffer with parking problems today, with frequent complaints from residents.

New zones could involve painting double yellow lines at corners of junctions. Car crashes often happen at junctions when sight lines are obstructed. However in many parts of the city drivers still park on double yellow lines, due to a lack of enforcement.

Each new resident parking zone would be tailored to the needs of the local area. The council will also review current prices for permits, and consider splitting up large existing zones into smaller ones.

The price of a permit for a property’s first car is expected to cover the costs of running the scheme. But a surplus would be made from permits for second and third cars.

The roll-out will be in two phases. The first will form part of the South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood project, including areas like Ashton, Bedminster West, Windmill Hill and Totterdown. This could also include matchday parking permits, in areas near Ashton Gate.

The second phase will focus on northern parts of Bristol, such as Ashley Down, St Andrews and Bishopston. An area around Stapleton Road is also likely to be included. Henleaze and Westbury could be included, to coincide with new parking charges introduced on the Downs. The cost of a permit varies in different parts of Bristol.