BRISTOL City Council’s plans to bring in licences for commercial users of its parks from this month are continuing to face criticism.
Among those who are likely to have to pay are professional dog walkers and a choir for mothers and babies.
The choir leader claimed that the fees were a “money-grab gone wrong”.
Julia Turner, whose BYOB – ‘bring your own baby’ – meets in St Andrews Park and three other parks, spoke out at a meeting of the public health and communities policy committee on March 20.
She said: “We’re out in all weathers, with no bandstands for shelter and often no safe, clean, functioning toilets nor changing facilities for babies, so the odds are against us.”
The parks licences will also affect other businesses, such as personal trainers running bootcamps.
After a public push-back, a half-price discount was given to professional dog walkers, which Ms Turner said was discriminatory.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Stephen Williams, chair of the public health committee,
said: “The parks licensing fee is for businesses that are running commercial activities within parks, where the business offer that they’re making to customers relies on being able to use the parks, so for instance outdoor personal trainers running bootcamps. That’s what the licensing scheme is for: to check that they’re qualified and insured and there’s a licence fee to cover that. It’s not necessarily a money-raising opportunity.”
Licences for one park will cost £480, and licences for up to seven parks will cost £720. Licences for between eight and 15 parks will cost £960. All these figures include the council fee plus VAT.
For commercial dog walking, licences for up to seven parks will cost £360, while licences for eight to 15 parks will cost £600. There is also a £60 application fee.