Title: Choir Founder Questions Park Charging Model

A petition garnering hundreds of signatures is pressing Bristol City Council to reconsider new licensing fees that are impacting a postnatal singing group. The Bring Your Own Baby (BYOB) choir, founded by Julia Turner, offers vocal sessions for new mothers across three Bristol parks.

Turner has expressed confusion and dismay over the council’s decision to charge her £400 per year for park access. She argues that the cost undermines efforts to keep classes affordable, noting particularly that professional dog walkers face lower fees despite utilizing the spaces more often.

The BYOB choir is among dozens of small enterprises affected by a new licensing regime introduced by the council last month, which mandates payments for operating in public green spaces.

Turner emphasized the therapeutic value of the choir, which charges £8 per session. She explained that the group aims to support new mothers who are vulnerable to postnatal depression.

"It’s a chance to get together and singing is quite bonding," Turner said. "Being outside adds so much to the wellbeing benefits of singing because we're around the trees."

She described the disparity in fees as "baffling," pointing out that her costs are 50% higher than those for dog walking businesses. "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 added.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, 85 businesses have so far applied for licenses. The council offers a 50% reduction for organizations with a turnover below £25,000 that operate in seven or fewer parks.

Kate Spreadbury of the Bristol Parks Forum highlighted the broader impact of the fees, stating that her organization can no longer justify leading walks in the city. "If we want to have an active and inclusive city, we need to support the groups used and valued in our communities," she said. "This policy is now doing real harm and we ask that you review its use urgently."

In response, Bristol City Council maintained that the licensing scheme is essential to verify that groups are properly qualified and insured, thereby ensuring parks remain safe and pleasant for all users. The authority also confirmed that revenue generated from these licenses will be reinvested into park maintenance and improvements.

Councillor Stephen Williams, chair of the Public Health and Communities Committee, clarified that the fee structure for dog walkers differs from the Parks Business Licence. He stated, "There is no specific discount applied to professional dog walkers... 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."

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