How to solve Bath's car conundrum?

Car parking is one of the most controversial subjects in Bath and the Council are embarking on a fresh consultation to establish how they should approach future provision. I would strongly encourage business people to take the time to add their comments because if we don’t then we only have ourselves to blame when the interests of other groups take precedence.

To be fair, the Council say they are attempting to balance the needs of everyone – residents, disabled people and businesses to name but three. But the simple truth is that finding a solution that makes everyone happy will be difficult to find.

Residents want fewer cars in the centre which they say will help reduce congestion and improve air quality. Both are laudable ambitions. On the other hand business needs good access to the city centre so that staff and customers can park close to where they work and shop. 

Spaces in the city centre are limited and they are likely to reduce still further when the Bath Quays are developed, to produce something like 20,000 square metres of office space and many hundreds of new jobs. 

The Council’s preferred strategy is to increase short term parking in the centre, on the basis that will help people who want to pop in to shop. But, that’s no good for those who have come to Bath for the day, to spend much more in the shops and restaurants than someone nipping out for a pint of milk and a loaf of bread.

They want to encourage more long stayers to go to the Park and Rides and use public transport. That’s also a fine ambition, but there is no getting away from it that many people will still want to drive their cars into the City centre, some have to because of mobility issues, and if they can’t there is a real danger we will lose customers and visitors.

It seems to me that there are two key projects that can help business and actually increase the number of car park spaces in the centre of Bath. First, include a multi-storey underground car park underneath Bath Quays North along the lines of SouthGate, though with better access. Second, put an extra level on the lower section of Charlotte Street. 

I accept those are two hot potatoes, but if they came into being they would make a huge difference to business and ensure the local economy can look to the future with confidence.