Price hike for Bristol park and rides

Bristol's park and ride fares are going up at the end of the month.

A Saturday return goes up from £2 to £2.50 (up 25 per cent), a peak return goes up from £3 to £3.50 (up 16.66 per cent) and the annual season ticket will cost £80 more at £580 (16 per cent ).

The revised fares take effect from June 29.

Bristol's Tory councillors have condemned the increases as "truly shocking".

Bristol City Council has contracts with First Bus and Wessex Connect to run the park & ride sites at Brislington, Long Ashton and Portway.

But council taxpayers are forking out a subsidy of £850,000 this year to help pay for park and ride services.

Despite this, there is still a shortfall of £160,000 which has to be met by increasing fares.

Tory transport spokeswoman Councillor Barbara Lewis said: "This massive above-inflation rise is truly shocking.

"At a time when we are supposed to be encouraging alternatives to the car, we see the commuter being hit with increases in the cost of travelling to work.

"I find it ironic that during the recent local election campaign, Bristol's Lib Dems trumpeted their intention to introduce an Edinburgh-style £1 bus fare across Bristol.

"Yet Councillor Jon Rogers, their Executive Member for Transport cynically approved this increase in the cost of park and ride in April."

Councillor Rogers, who is in charge of the council's transport department, said the increases were agreed in February.

He said: "Council taxpayers in Bristol should not be over-subsidising visitors who come to the city and use the park and ride services. They are still extremely good value for money."