Title: Choir Founder Stunned by Park Licensing Costs

A petition bearing hundreds of signatures is currently urging Bristol City Council to revise its newly implemented park licensing fees, which have significantly impacted a local postnatal singing group. The Bring Your Own Baby (BYOB) choir, which offers vocal sessions for new mothers across three Bristol parks, is among the small businesses affected by the scheme introduced last month.

Julia Turner, the choir’s founder, expressed deep frustration over the financial burden, noting that the £400 annual fee required to use the parks makes maintaining affordable classes increasingly challenging. Turner highlighted a discrepancy in the fee structure, revealing that she pays 50% more than professional dog walkers to operate in the same spaces, despite dog walking services utilizing the grounds more frequently.

"It saddens me," Turner stated. The sessions, priced at £8 each, are designed to support the mental health of new mothers, a demographic vulnerable to postnatal depression. "It's a chance to get together and singing is quite bonding. Being outside adds so much to the wellbeing benefits of singing because we're around the trees."

Turner described the fee disparity as "baffling." "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.

The new licensing requirement has prompted 85 businesses to apply so far. The Local Democracy Reporting Service noted that a 50% discount is offered to entities with a turnover below £25,000 that utilize seven or fewer city parks. However, the policy has drawn criticism from community advocates. Kate Spreadbury of the Bristol Parks Forum announced that the organization can no longer afford to host 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 said. "This policy is now doing real harm and we ask that you review its use urgently."

In response, Bristol City Council defended the licensing scheme, stating that it ensures groups operating in parks are properly insured and qualified, thereby keeping green spaces safe and pleasant for all visitors. The authority emphasized that any revenue generated from these licences will be reinvested into park maintenance and improvements.

Addressing the concerns regarding the fee comparison, 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 services are charged under a separate fee structure, a method common among 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.

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