A council has sparked outrage with plans to impose fees on small businesses that use public parks for activities.
Bristol City Council’s controversial scheme would require dog walkers to pay £450 yearly for access to a single park, whilst fitness instructors and yoga teachers face the same fee.
Those needing multiple park access would be charged £900 annually.
The Green Party-led council, headed by Tony Dyer, originally scheduled the fees to commence in October.
The policy targets any commercial activity, excluding free community groups like Parkrun, affecting numerous self-employed professionals who rely on outdoor spaces for their livelihoods.
The proposals have drawn sharp condemnation from opposition politicians who characterise the initiative as financially damaging to small enterprises.
Tom Renhard, Bristol Labour’s leader, denounced the scheme: “This is nothing more than a desperate cash-grab. If the Green-Lib Dem administration wants more funding, it needs to look elsewhere.”
He warned the policy could devastate people’s incomes whilst generating minimal revenue.
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Bristol City Council’s controversial scheme would require dog walkers to pay £450 yearly for access to a single park
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Mr Renhard added: “This barking mad policy will raise a paltry sum but could have a devastating effect on people’s livelihoods. This policy needs to be scrapped.”
Conservative councillors joined the criticism, with their leader Mark Weston branding the proposal “absolutely bonkers”.
A political dispute has emerged regarding the scheme’s origins, with both major parties attempting to distance themselves from the unpopular proposal.
Green councillors maintain that Labour initially conceived the plan during a 2018 cabinet meeting, with the idea resurfacing in November 2021.
Those needing multiple park access would be charged £900 annually
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Labour representatives have rejected this narrative, instead attributing responsibility to the current Green-Liberal Democrat leadership.
The council operates without overall control, with committee positions divided between the Greens and Liberal Democrats.
Mark Weston acknowledged the proposal’s earlier history, stating: “It made no sense when it was initially suggested by Labour in 2021, and it makes even less sense now in 2025.”
Public opposition has forced the council to pause the scheme’s implementation.
The policy targets any commercial activity excluding free community groups like Parkrun
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The authority continues requesting businesses to register, claiming this will help measure commercial park usage patterns.
Despite the temporary suspension, uncertainty surrounds the proposal’s future.
Mark Weston expressed relief at the delay, urging permanent abandonment: “I’m glad that they have at least temporarily shelved it, and they should now consign it to the dustbin of stupid political history.”
He emphasised the importance of promoting outdoor space usage, particularly during challenging economic conditions, rather than penalising small enterprises attempting to earn income through park-based services.
GB News has contacted Bristol City Council for a comment.