On 1 January 2022, vehicles were permanently restricted in some streets in central Bath, as part of the Bath City Centre Security scheme. These vehicle restrictions are to protect the city's most crowded spaces from the risk of vehicle-based terrorist attack.
Use this page to find out if you are exempt from these restrictions, if you need to apply for special permission to use these roads, and how to make an application.
Exemptions
These restrictions mean that at certain times of day, only vehicles performing the following functions can enter and use the roads without arranging prior permission:
- Emergency services
- Royal Mail and ParcelForce deliveries or collections
- Construction, roadworks and emergency utility works (such as repairing gas leaks and flooded drains)
- Vehicles required for major building, industrial or demolition operations
- Private vehicles or taxis with an occupant (or picking up a passenger) carrying a valid Blue Badge card (Cheap Street access point only)
Locations and times of restrictions
Motor vehicle access will be restricted for the same times, 7 days a week:
- From 10am to 10pm, in York Street
- From 10am to 6pm, in the following streets:
Abbey Green, Abbeygate Street, Bath Street, Beau Street, Cheap Street, Hot Bath Street, Lower Borough Walls, Parsonage Lane, Saw Close, Stall Street, Swallow Street, Upper Borough Walls, Westgate Street.
There will be three points of access, or gates, into the secure zone, on Cheap Street, Lower Borough Walls, and York Street. The table below shows which gate you'll need to use to access certain streets within the zone.
| Gate | Streets accessed |
|---|---|
| Cheap Street | Cheap Street, Westgate Street, (including Parsonage Lane), Saw Close, Upper Borough Walls. Blue Badge holders can access these streets from 10am to 6pm by showing their blue badge to the camera at the intercom post. |
| Lower Borough Walls | Lower Borough Walls, Stall Street, Abbeygate Street, Abbey Green, Swallow Street (south), Bath Street, Beau Street, Hot Bath Street. |
| York Street | York Street only. |
View a map of the scheme
Current restrictions
View an online map of current vehicle restrictions, parking and mobility provision
Download a high resolution, printable PDF of the map
Our maps include additional disabled, resident and loading bay parking facilities, car parks with disabled spaces outside the restricted areas, and the availability of public seating and toilets around Bath City Centre.
How we're enforcing these restrictions
Select a topic below, to read more about how we will manage access for different services and sections of the community.
From 18 October 2023, access from Cheap Street will be automated. Between the hours of 10am and 6pm you will no longer need to show your Blue Badge to the safety marshal positioned at the Cheap Street gate. Instead, you will need to press the intercom, show your blue badge to the camera when requested, wait for the green light and drive through the open bollards. It is important that you do not try to follow a vehicle through the bollards.
You (or a carer, relative or friend who is driving you) can pick up, drop off or park for up to 3 hours on double yellow lines on the following streets inside the restricted area: Cheap Street (when open), Westgate Street, Saw Close and Upper Borough Walls. Between the hours of 10am and 6pm, you will need to show your Blue Badge to the safety marshal positioned at the gates to enter and exit these streets.
If a carer, relative or friend drops you off on a restricted street before 10am, that same person can return to pick you up. Before your pick-up, just call Council Connect on 01225 39 40 41, and they will transfer you to our CCTV team, who can check the first six digits of your Blue Badge Card and the details of the vehicle.
Taxis carrying you as a passenger can also pick up and drop off at any time on these streets. Between the hours of 10am and 6pm, you will need to show your Blue Badge to the safety marshal positioned at the gates to enter and exit these streets.
If you come into the restricted area via taxi, you can arrange to be picked up later by another taxi, without having to decide the time in advance. After you order your pick-up taxi, just call Council Connect on 01225 39 40 41, and they will transfer you to our CCTV team, who can check the first six digits of your Blue Badge Card and the name of the taxi company you have ordered.
Watch the video below to find out more.
Mobility equipment within the city centre
You can now hire mobility equipment when you're out and about in Bath, whether you're a resident or a visitor. There is a range of equipment available on day-by-day hire (Monday to Friday), from Assured Mobility in Hot Bath Street. To check arrangements on the day you plan to visit, see the Assured Mobility website, call on 01225 83 19 60, or email bath@assuredmobilityltd.co.uk
Find the nearest blue badge parking bays to Assured Mobility
How to get a Blue Badge
Visit our Blue Badge web page to find out if you are eligible, and complete the online application process. Call Council Connect on 01225 39 40 41 if you need help with this.
You will only be able to access these streets by applying for a one-off permit. We will issue permits on a case-by-case basis. You will need to demonstrate that the access you need is essential, and can't be arranged outside the normal operating hours of street closure, for example, a house move, or the delivery of large pieces of furniture.
If you're a resident with a Blue Badge
Before a carer, relative, friend or taxi comes to pick you up within the restricted zone, you will need to call Council Connect on 01225 39 40 41. They will transfer you to our CCTV team, who can check the first six digits of your Blue Badge Card and vehicle or taxi company details.
Permits are free of charge, but we will only issue them when we are satisfied that access during restricted hours is necessary.
In general, delivery drivers will not be able to gain motor vehicle access to any of the secure zone between 10am and 6pm, and York Street between 10am and 10pm. Please check the options with your provider; they may include in-store collection or pick-up points, as well as out-of-hours delivery.
For normal operations
You will need to apply for an access permit for a tradesperson who is booked to work on a property within the restricted streets between 10am and 6pm, or 10am and 10pm if working in York Street. Use the procedure below.
Emergency work
In the event of an emergency, such as urgent plumbing or electrical work, please call Council Connect on 01225 39 40 41 to arrange access for your tradesperson.
We have been working closely with the police and the fire and ambulance services throughout this process, to ensure that services and public safety are not affected. They will have special access to the city centre and have a direct link to our control room.
How to apply for an access permit
First, check which access gate you will need to get permission for, to reach your location: Cheap Street, York Street, or Lower Borough Walls.
You should apply at least 10 working days before the access is required. Successful applicants will receive a one-off permit to use at an entrance barrier to the restricted zone at the specified time. Depending on the nature of the request, we will aim to process your application within a day.
Before you apply
You will need to give us the following information:
- Your reason for needing access
- The date, time and expected duration of access
- The vehicle registration*
- The driver's name, address and out-of-hours contact details*
- Your name, address and out-of-hours contact details (if different from the driver)
* If you need to change vehicles or drivers for any reason, you must give us as much notice as possible of the new details, or your permit will become invalid, and you won't be able to enter the restricted zone. We reserve the right to check your vehicle has a valid MOT on the GOV.uk website to verify that roadworthy vehicles are entering the city centre.
Other ways to apply
If you are unable to apply online, you can use any of the following services:
- Information and Advice service at Lewis House, Manvers Street, BA1 1JG
- Call Council Connect on 01225 39 40 41
- Email our CCTV control room at citycentresecurity@bathnes.gov.uk
Other restricted streets within the city centre
There are other streets in the city centre which are restricted, including Kingsmead Square and Milsom Street. These areas are not part of the security project, and access regulations and management here will be different.
Temporary changes to the permanent restrictions
If the national or local security risk is assessed by the Police as critical, or there is a planned event which has been assessed as high risk, Traffic Regulation Orders for anti-terrorism purposes may be extended to affect vehicles and users who are normally exempt. This could mean that Blue Badge holders or vehicles normally allowed within the restricted area would also be temporarily excluded. If this does happen, we will communicate this clearly to the public.