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Bristol City Council are planning to enforce resident's parking zones before the end of 2009 with Kingsdown and Brandon Hill being chosen for the pilot scheme.

The scheme is supposed to stop commuters from parking in these areas however campaigners against the proposals have said that local residents and businesses do not want to pay for parking permits or in effect be taxed to park outside their homes. The pilot scheme is expected to affect more than 3,000 homes in these areas and houses with multi car ownership are likely to be the heaviest hit.

The permits are expected to be £30 for the first car, raising by £80 for a second and another £200 for a 3rd vehicle. Mark Bradshaw, Executive Member for Sustainable Development at Bristol City Council has stated that:-

"The revenue raised from these schemes will be separate from the rest of the council budget and will not be allowed to be used for anything else. It will be an open book, so people will be able to see what goes in and what goes out in terms of expenditure."

So the council will be raising additional revenue - albeit after set up costs of £810,000 and running costs of a further £235,000 - however it certainly begs the question where are the commuters going to park now?

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