VICTORY FOR THE BMF AS BATH & NORTH EAST SOMERSET (BANES) COUNCIL ROW BACK ON

THEIR PROPOSAL TO INTRODUCE EMISSION-BASED PARKING CHARGES FOR MOTORBIKES

Following a coordinated campaign by the BMF, which included a joined-up campaign on the ground between BMF’s Carenza Ellery and Geoff Mills and Colin Brown from the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG), the Council has today announced that they will not now be introducing parking charges for motorbikes.

After a Public Consultation was launched by BANES Council earlier this year, the BMF submitted a comprehensive and robust response setting out our objections to the Council’s original proposals to introduce parking charges for motorcycles across the Bath & North East Somerset area (you can read the BMF’s detailed response to the Public Consultation here)

In announcing their decision, BANES Council said: “these changes reflect our policy, and also show we listen and adapt proposals in light of feedback, and do not have a one size fits all mentality when it comes to the implementation of our schemes.”

Paul Morgan CBE, the BMF’s Government Relations Executive, said:

“The Council’s decision represents a victory not only for motorcyclists but also for common sense. The proposal by the Council to introduce emission-based parking charges for motorcyclists was illogical, poorly thought out and flew in the face of the Council’s stated aim to “encourage a shift to cleaner, more sustainable travel in the BANES area.” The Council’s proposals also completely failed to recognise the important transitional role motorcycles have to play in the UK’s wider acceleration to Net Zero, as well as the viable solution motorcycles offer to reducing congestion, and associated pollution issues in Bath & North East Somerset’s towns and cities.

We are pleased that the Council has listened to the objections the BMF raised to their proposals and to the voice of local motorcyclists across Bath & North East Somerset.”

BANES Council has said that it now intends to launch a “further consultation process at a later date.” The BMF looks forward to working with the Council to fully realise the benefits that motorcycling can bring to a future sustainable, affordable and greener transport solution across Bath and North East Somerset.

Wider information on this issue can be found in the BMF news article “Motorcycle Parking Charges-BATH” issued on 4 April 2024 and “Bath and North East Somerset Parking Charges” issued on 26th July 2024.

Top image courtesy of Lāsma Artmane – Unsplash