News / bristol city council
Calls to allow pubs and restaurants to retain outside areas on former parking spaces
Hospitality businesses are urging the city council to allow them to retain their outside seating areas on former car parking spaces.
A petition organised by the Bristol Association of Restaurants, Bars & Independent Establishments (BARBIE) was signed by more than 4,500 people – more than one thousand above the threshold needed to trigger a debate during a full council meeting at City Hall.
That debate is set to take place at Tuesday’s meeting, with Marvin Rees then invited to consider his response to the petition.
is needed now More than ever
Brendan Murphy of BARBIE said that he is “extremely concerned for those venues that sit outside specific pedestrianised or semi-pedestrianised zones, with no pub garden or outdoor space and where the pavement is too narrow to put tables and chairs”.
Since lockdown restrictions lifted, many of these businesses have been utilising parking bays and parts of the road for outdoor seating, under the city council’s outdoor hospitality rules and regulations.
Murphy is urging the council to protect these businesses by granting either permanent of temporary traffic regulation orders to enable the structures to remain
He added: “Bristol City Council has announced a cost of living crisis. Now is not the time to further jeopardise independent Bristol hospitality businesses who have worked hard to survive the pandemic and keep their staff in jobs.”
Main photo: The Coronation
Read next:
- Urgent calls to ban pavement parking across city
- Shock as Pret prepares to open in former pub
- Meet the Bedminster residents starring in a Channel 4 series
Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
