Bristol City Council is under fire over a controversial proposal to charge small business owners up to £450 a year to use public parks for work-related activities. The plan, which would affect dog walkers, yoga instructors, and fitness coaches, has sparked widespread backlash and political infighting.
The Green-led council proposed a licensing fee of £450 for use of a single park, or £900 for access to multiple parks, to be introduced in October 2025. The council argued the fee would help protect green spaces and ensure fair access, but critics labelled the idea a cash grab, bonkers, and barking mad.
Facing mounting criticism from residents and opposition parties, the council has put the scheme on hold. A spokesperson confirmed the delay but said businesses are still being asked to register so the council can assess the scale of commercial use in parks.
The political blame game quickly escalated, with Green councillors blaming Labour, claiming the idea originated in a 2018 cabinet meeting and resurfaced in 2021. Labour, however, fired back, accusing the Green-Liberal Democrat administration of driving the scheme forward.
Tom Renhard, Labour leader on the council, slammed the policy, saying, “this is nothing more than a desperate cash-grab. This barking mad policy will raise a paltry sum but could have a devastating effect on people’s livelihoods. We hope they do the sensible thing and make another U-turn.”
Conservative leader Mark Weston echoed the outrage that, “It made no sense in 2021, and it makes even less sense now in 2025. We should be encouraging people to use our outdoor spaces, not penalising small businesses trying to stay afloat during tough economic times. It belongs in the dustbin of stupid political history.”
Under the proposed rules, only free-to-join activities like Parkrun would be exempt. Paid sessions would be subject to the new charges.
Although the plan is currently paused, the debate over commercial access to public spaces in Bristol is far from over. Residents and business owners continue to express concern that the fees could harm small enterprises that rely on outdoor venues, particularly in a cost-of-living crisis.
