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The levy will aim to reduce congestion and the number of people driving to work(Image: Bristol Live)<\/p>\nThe levy could affect thousands of staff parking spacesThe levy will aim to reduce congestion and the number of people driving to work(Image: Bristol Live)<\/p>\n
Hospital staff and teachers could be excluded from a Bristol workplace parking levy, if one comes into effect.<\/p>\n
It comes as Bristol City Council<\/a> has said it will start conducting surveys and collecting data next month to find out how many businesses could be affected by the scheme.<\/p>\n Then this autumn transport experts at the council will carry out modelling, forecasting and impact assessments.<\/p>\n This will explore how a workplace parking levy would operate and pay for future transport projects, like upgrading bus services for example.<\/p>\n A levy could affect several thousand parking spaces, either in the city centre or across Bristol, where employees can park at their work.<\/p>\n An update on the plans was given to councillors on the transport policy committee on Thursday, May 15.<\/p>\n Opposition Labour<\/a> councillors are calling for exemptions for certain groups such as those on low income.<\/p>\n Labour Councillor Tim Rippington said: \u201cThere are certain groups that we feel should be excluded from a workplace parking levy.<\/p>\n “We want to get reassurance that the data will be broken down into different groups, so that we\u2019ll be able to identify a scheme with and a scheme without certain groups in it.\u201d<\/p>\n Exemptions could potentially include hospital staff and teachers, after concerns in Leicester about the impact on schools led to plans getting scrapped.<\/p>\n Modelling will figure out how large the zone should be where a levy would apply, as well as who would be made to pay too.<\/p>\n A committee report<\/a> said the levy would be a \u201ckey demand management measure aimed at tackling congestion, particularly at peak times, and as a means of providing significant additional revenue for transport improvements across the city\u201d.<\/p>\n The levy would discourage people from driving to work and increase the numbers who walk, cycle or get public transport instead.<\/p>\n Transport bosses are hoping to reduce the number of people who drive in Bristol because of the impact on the environment, with pollution from cars harming health and contributing to climate change.<\/p>\n Bristol also suffers from terrible congestion, and thousands of people each driving large cars into the city centre takes up a lot more space than walking, cycling or public transport.<\/p>\n The levy would be charged every year to employers, who would probably pass on the cost to staff.<\/p>\n The council hasn\u2019t decided yet how much the annual levy would cost, but in Nottingham, the only council to already charge a workplace parking levy, the fee is set at \u00a3570 per space. Millions raised from the levy have been spent on extending a tram network and improving buses.<\/p>\n Recently Leicester and Edinburgh drew up plans to introduce a workplace parking levy, but then dropped them due to the cost of living crisis and a lack of local support.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Oxfordshire and Glasgow are still planning to roll out a levy, as well as other councils.<\/p>\n An outline business case for a levy is expected early next year.<\/p>\n The council then needs to draw up a full business case, before the levy would be rolled out. The levy was a key part of the Green Party\u2019s manifesto, ahead of local elections in May last year, but will likely be controversial.<\/p>\n Join Bristol Live\u2019s WhatsApp community for top stories and breaking news sent directly to your phone<\/strong><\/p>\n Bristol Live<\/a> is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community.<\/p>\n Through the app, we\u2019ll send the latest breaking news, top stories, exclusives and much more straight to your phone.<\/p>\n To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select \u2018Join Community\u2019.<\/a><\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live<\/a> team.<\/p>\n We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out at any time you like.<\/p>\n To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose \u2018Exit group\u2019.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1744476931_129_0_WhatsApp-Phone.jpg\")
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