Choir Director Expresses Confusion Over Park Licensing Costs

A petition gathering hundreds of signatures is urging Bristol City Council to reconsider its new licensing fees for parks, which are impacting a local postnatal singing group. The Bring Your Own Baby (BYOB) choir, founded by Julia Turner, offers vocal sessions for new mothers across three Bristol parks. However, Turner reports that maintaining affordable class rates is becoming increasingly challenging, as the council requires an annual fee of £400 for park usage. She further notes that the cost is higher than what professional dog walkers are required to pay.

In response, council officials have stated that the licensing regime is designed to ensure public safety and does not aim to favor any specific type of enterprise. The initiative was launched last month, subjecting dozens of small businesses to new charges for operating in municipal green spaces. So far, 85 businesses have submitted applications for licenses. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a 50% discount is offered to enterprises with an annual turnover below £25,000 that utilize seven or fewer parks within the city.

Turner, who charges £8 per session, emphasized the therapeutic value of the choir, which aims to support new mothers during the postnatal period—a time when they are vulnerable to depression. "It's a chance to get together and singing is quite bonding," she explained. "Being outside adds so much to the wellbeing benefits of singing because we're around the trees."

Despite these benefits, Turner described the fee disparity as "baffling" and deeply disheartening. She pointed out that she pays 50% more than dog walkers, even though commercial walkers use the parks more frequently. "As a mother myself, I feel like we already have to deal with a lot. We don't have the mental health support that we should have. It just baffles and really saddens me," she said.

The new fees have also affected community organizations beyond the choir. Kate Spreadbury of the Bristol Parks Forum revealed that the group can no longer afford to organize walks in the city due to the costs. "If we want to have an active and inclusive city, we need to support the groups used and valued in our communities," Spreadbury stated. "This policy is now doing real harm and we ask that you review its use urgently."

Bristol City Council maintains that the licenses are necessary to verify that park users are adequately qualified and insured, thereby keeping green spaces safe and pleasant for everyone. The authority added that any revenue generated from these licenses will be reinvested into park maintenance and improvements.

Addressing concerns about unequal treatment, Councillor Stephen Williams, chair of the Public Health and Communities Committee, clarified that there is no specific discount for professional dog walkers. He explained that dog walking businesses fall under a different fee structure, a model commonly adopted by other local authorities. "This approach reflects how commercial dog walking is commonly managed by other local authorities and does not represent a reduction compared with other activities, nor is it intended to provide preferential treatment to any one type of business," he said.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-05-06 05:24:27 UTC