Choir Founder Questions Park Licensing Costs Amid Petition Drive

A petition garnering hundreds of signatures is urging Bristol City Council to reconsider its new licensing fees for parks, which are impacting a postnatal singing group. Julia Turner, the founder of the Bring Your Own Baby (BYOB) choir, has expressed confusion over the council’s fee structure, particularly after discovering that professional dog walkers are charged less than her organization for using the same green spaces.

The BYOB choir offers singing sessions for new mothers across three Bristol parks. Turner, who runs the classes at £8 per session, stated that the new annual fee of £400 imposed by Bristol City Council has made maintaining affordable prices increasingly difficult. She described it as "baffling" that her group, which meets less frequently than commercial dog walkers, faces a cost 50% higher than that of the latter.

"It saddens me," Turner said. "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."

Turner emphasized that the choir’s primary goal is 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."

The choir is among dozens of small enterprises affected by the licensing scheme introduced last month, which mandates payment for operating in city parks. To date, 85 businesses have submitted applications for licenses. The council has noted that a 50% discount is available to entities with a turnover under £25,000 that utilize seven or fewer parks, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Kate Spreadbury of the Bristol Parks Forum highlighted the broader impact of the fees, revealing that her organization can no longer afford to continue 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," Spreadbury said. "This policy is now doing real harm and we ask that you review its use urgently."

In response to the criticism, council officials defended the licensing requirements, stating they are essential to ensure that park users are qualified, insured, and that green spaces remain safe and pleasant. The authority added that any revenue generated from these licenses will be reinvested into park maintenance and improvement.

Councillor Stephen Williams, chair of the Public Health and Communities Committee, clarified the disparity in fees. "There is no specific discount applied to professional dog walkers, who are charged under a different fee structure to the Parks Business Licence," he said. He noted that this approach aligns with how other local authorities manage commercial dog walking and does not constitute preferential treatment for any specific business type.

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