BRISTOL CAR PARKS TO BEGIN CHARGING IN AUTUMN

There's major backlash over the planned charges at 10 Bristol car parks. The authorities announced them back in February, which basically means they're coming this autumn. People are not happy – especially GP patients near Westbury Hill Car Park.

Folks have called it a "tax on people for being ill" since the car park is so close to the doctor's surgery. Even some cross-party councillors have spoken up against it and said it should either be dropped completely or at least cut back.

Conservative group leader and Henbury and Brentry ward, councillor Mark Weston, said he does not understand the "intellectual gymnastics the council goes through".

"We can afford to throw tens of millions of pounds at the Colston Hall [now Bristol Beacon] because we recognise the value it provides to the city but we are going to start charging a tiny amount in small car parks because we don't recognise the importance they have to secondary high streets.

"Small car parks are vital for those areas," he added.

Stoke Bishop ward councillor, Conservative John Goulandris, said medical patients needed to park at Waverley Road in Shirehampton where fees are also being introduced so “we will be hitting people who are sick”.

“These charges could... kill our suburban shopping centres which are suffering already,” he added

Mr Goulandris said the council's tiny earnings of £150,000 were a drop in the bucket compared to their total budget. The Labour cabinet member for transport backed up the plan with all its price increases, cuts and cost-saving adventures. Not that it made much of a difference anyway.

Councillor Don Alexander,said people have been subsidised for a long time with free car parks but “we would prefer to use that money to support bus services and active travel”.

The other eight car parks are Beechwood Road in Frome Vale; Callington Road in Brislington; Chalks Road in St George; Derby Street in St George; Ducie Road in Lawrence Hill; Machin Road in Henbury; Repton Road in Brislington and Stoke View Road in Eastville.

Blue badge parking spaces will remain free in every car park.