A KEYNSHAM town centre car park is due to close tomorrow (March 31).
The Ashton Way East car park offered 30 spaces with a maximum stay of up to four hours.
But Bath & North East Somerset Council, which has been running the car park, is now shutting the facility, reportedly because of the increased cost of renting the land.
It said: “From 1 April the council is not operating the 30-space Ashton Way East short-stay car park in Keynsham, which is owned by a private landlord.
“We’re reminding drivers that more than 680 spaces remain available across the seven council-run car parks in the town, including 30 minutes’ free parking in the green bays at Ashton Way car park opposite.
“Signage will go up on the car park nearer the time and you can find more details about council-run car parks on our website.”
Alan Hale, Independent ward councillor for Keynsham South, announced the car park’s closure on Facebook on March 13.
He said: “The council leases the small third-party-owned car park at Ashton Way East (behind Costa on the slope), which provides fewer than 30 short-stay spaces and contributes only marginally to the town centre’s overall parking capacity, which is less than 5%. The landowner is seeking to substantially increase the annual rent, with indications that competing interest from a private parking operator may drive this higher.
“The council is unable to support the proposed significant price rise, as it would make the site commercially unviable and a net financial liability to the council.
“As a result, the landowner has requested that the council vacate the site by the end of 31 March.”
He added: “If a private parking company takes over the management of the site, then enforcement is likely to be very strict, as it will be in the commercial interest of the company, and of course, wheel clamps might also come into play with release fees.”
Charges at Ashton Way East applied Monday to Saturday, with free parking on Sunday. The main Ashton Way car park on the other side of the road has more than 200 spaces.
Photo: B&NES Council
Keynsham town centre car park to shut
