SOUTH Gloucestershire Council is changing its plans for off-street parking charges to be introduced from next year.
The council says the changes were made after what it described as “helpful engagement” with town and parish councils, chambers of commerce and other “key stakeholders”.
The main changes are in the proposed charges for short-stay car parks.
The charge for an hour will stay at 70p, but the charge for two hours will be £1.30 instead of £1.50, three hours will cost £3 instead of £3.50 and up to four hours will cost £5 instead of £4.50.
There will still be free 30-minute stays in “at least 10 per cent” of short stay car park spaces.
Proposed long-stay charges are also being changed, with a new £4 rate for stays of between four and six hours and a £5 charge for stays of more than six hours. Previously the proposed rates were £6 for between four and eight hours, and £9 for a day. The lowest long-stay charge of £3 for up to four hours is unchanged.
The council has reduced proposed season ticket charges for long-stay parking to £20 for a week (from £24) £75 a month (from £90) and £840 a year (from £1,008). A new six-monthly ticket option for £435 is also being proposed.
It has also said holders of disabled parking Blue Badges will be able to park free for up to four hours in any space in any car park, providing their badge is displayed.
The council has also committed to proactively monitoring the impact of potential displacement parking, where drivers park in neighbouring streets to avoid charges. Those roads where displacement parking is most likely will be monitored to assess parking trends.
Further monitoring will be carried out after the scheme has been introduced so that officers can work with residents to identify the best ways to mitigate any changes to parking patterns locally.