Body worn cameras (BWCs) will be used by our Civil Enforcement Team whose officers deal with parking enforcement.

They will

• serve as a deterrent to acts of aggression or verbal and physical abuse
• assist the police in any investigation of aggression or verbal and physical abuse
• help to protect officers at work
• allow the officer to maintain the use of their hands and enforcement equipment whilst recording an incident

Who will be using them

Civil Enforcement Officers will have received training in the use of BWCs, including:

• practical use of equipment
• on-street operational guidance i.e. when to begin and end recording
• legal implications of using such equipment

When they will be activated

The BWCs will be used in an overt manner. Before recording, officers will give a clear verbal instruction that recording is about to take place (unless in an emergency situation). The officer doesn't need to get consent before filming.
Civil Enforcement Officers will activate the camera when they:

• have an engagement with a member of the public which, in the opinion of the officer, is confrontational and where they believe that they may be subject to physical or verbal abuse.
• encounter a situation in which they are approached by a member of the public in a manner perceived as aggressive or threatening.

Further information

What a bus gate is, where they are, and how to make sure you don't get a fine for using them by mistake.

What a bus gate is

A bus gate is a short section of road which only buses and authorised vehicles can use.All Bristol's bus gates are in use 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

CCTV cameras operate to make sure drivers obey bus gate restrictions.

How a bus lane is different from a bus gate

A bus lane is marked by a solid thick white line and the words ‘bus lane' marked periodically on the road.

Only buses and authorised vehicles can use a bus lane.

What bus gate warning signs look like

Bus gates have the words ‘bus gate' marked on the road at the entrance to the bus gate. Some bus gates also have a section of red road surface.

Only buses and authorised vehicles can use a bus gate.

Who can drive through bus gates

These road users can travel through bus gates:

• buses
• emergency vehicles
• bicycles

Bus gate locations and exemptions

There are exemptions with some bus gates allowing motorcycles, private hire vehicles or taxis, HGVs and other vehicles to travel through.

Planned bus gates

We'll be installing three 24-hour bus gates as part of the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood trial scheme. The bus gates will be on:

• Avonvale Road
• Marsh Lane
• Pilemarsh

See  East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood bus gates for information about the bus gates and exemptions.

Fines

You could be fined if you do not obey the signs at bus gates.

Find out more and pay your fine

Our commitment to improving road safety.

Motorists who contravene driving restrictions create potential dangers to both pedestrians and other road users.

In November 2022 Bristol City Council consulted with the public on 6 sites in the city that were identified for new Moving Traffic Enforcement (MTE) powers, where there were known, persistent historical contraventions.

This consultation formed part of our application to Government under Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004.

In July 2023, we were granted the new MTE powers by Government. 

This will allow us to enforce moving traffic restrictions in a more robust manner at the sites listed below from March 17, 2025.

A Notice of Civil Enforcement of Moving Traffic Contraventions and Penalty Charges (PDF) 140KB, which details the powers was published on February 10, 2025.

The new rules say we cannot issue a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) for a first MTE contravention in the first 6 months. Instead, we can only send a warning letter. However, if someone breaks the rule twice in that time, we can give them a PCN.

Sites under development

We have a further 2 sites under development that we plan to launch in 2025.

What to do if you’ve received a PCN as a result of an MTE contravention

Pay a PCN:

Pay your parking, moving traffic or bus lane PCN

Appeal a PCN:

Appeal a parking, moving traffic or bus lane PCN

Apply for a parking permit, information about parking restrictions, and what to do if you're towed away.

Parking in your area

If you live in a council property that has a designated car park or permit parking, you or your carer can park there for free.

Housing parking permits can only be used to park at the site or place that's written on the permit.  They're not valid for parking in Resident Parking Scheme areas. 

Apply for a permit

You can apply for a parking permit for yourself and up to three carers or you can renew an existing permit.

You'll need:

• the registration number, make and model for all vehicles that you need a permit for
• your 14 digit rent account number

Evidence you'll need to upload

There are a number of documents you'll need to upload when you apply for your permit:

• If you're applying on behalf of another tenant or leaseholder, a copy of a signed letter that says you have their permission. We may contact them to check.
• If the vehicle is owned, a copy of your V5C logbook 
• If the vehicle is leased, a copy of the Motability agreement or taxi lease agreement
• If it's a new vehicle and the V5C logbook hasn't arrived yet,  a copy of the V5C/2 new keeper's detail. 

Apply for a new, or renew an existing permit

If you've bought a new vehicle

If your V5C logbook hasn't arrived, and you've sent us a copy of the V5C/2 new keeper's detail, we'll send you a temporary permit. 

We'll send you a permenant permit when we receive:

• A copy of the V5C logbook for the new vehicle
• Your old permit
• If you don't have the old permit, a copy of the DVLA letter that confirms you're no longer the registered keeper of the old vehicle

You can send your documents to Housing Car Park Permits, Estate Management (100 TS), PO Box 3399, Bristol, BS1 9NE

You can also bring them to the Citizen Service Point at 100 Temple Street.

What happens after you apply

We'll post the permit to the tenant or leaseholder. This can take up to 14 working days.

Permits last for one year from the date of issue. You'll need to renew them one month before they run out. 

You must display your permit in your vehicle. If you don't, the vehicle may be removed.

You can only use your permit in the car park it was issued for.

Designated and permit parking restrictions

Visitors must park elsewhere. If they park in a designated car park their vehicle will be considered illegally parked and will be removed.

Carers can use designated car parks, if they display a carer's permit.

Larger vehicles such as lorries, large vans, caravans, trailers and boats aren't permitted to park unless there is an agreed area. If you own a large vehicle and you're not sure, please contact us.

If you continually break the rules you'll be banned from using the car parks.

Vehicle removal

Parking on any site is at your own risk. We accept no responsibility for any damage or loss of property or belongings.

Vehicles can be removed from a designated area or car park for:

• illegal parking or car park usage, for example running a business
• not having paid their vehicle tax through the DVLA
• not being roadworthy/being abandoned
• parking when we have not agreed to this
• breaking the parking rules
• causing an obstruction
• being a health and safety risk
• not displaying a valid permit in a permit car park

Any vehicles towed away by our contractor will be stored for seven days. Vehicles of low value or are not roadworthy may be disposed of as scrap immediately after removal.

We reserve the right to dispose of vehicles as we see fit.

What to do if your vehicle has been removed

If you think your vehicle has been removed:

• check for signs on display and consider if your parking was breaking the rules
• contact our towing agent Hintons Rescue on 01225 448 025 (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm, Saturday 8:30am to 12noon) to see if your vehicle has been removed for storage
• if Hintons Rescue has your vehicle you'll need to make an appointment to collect it
• if Hintons Rescue doesn't have your vehicle then contact the police, as it may have been stolen

Collecting your vehicle

You'll need to collect your vehicle from: Western Distribution Centre, Whitchurch Lane, Bristol, BS14 0BH.

Collection fee

There is a fee of £105 plus VAT for towing and a fee of £12 plus VAT for daily storage before vehicle collection.

Housing Delivery operate an appeal system for owners who feel their vehicle should not have been towed.

Email: housingcarparkpermit@bristol.gov.uk

You'll need to give us:

• the registration number, make and model of your vehicle
• when and where your vehicle was towed away
• why you wish to appeal the removal of your vehicle