Works to provide long stay coach parking at the Odd Down Park and Ride site will begin on 16th April.

The scheme will provide 29 coach parking spaces within the north east corner of the Park and Ride site.

Alteration works will be carried out by North Midland Construction to separate the coach parking from the car parking area, together with some modifications to the internal Park and Ride road, as well as improvements to the pedestrian routes connecting with the roundabout. The construction works will be phased to minimise disruption and so that the Odd Down Park and Ride will remain operational throughout.

The Council expects the new facility to be operational this summer. In the short term, coaches will continue to drop off/pick up in Bath city centre, with the Odd Down site available for coaches to layover. However, the longer term vision is for coaches that are bringing visitors to the city for more than a few hours to drop off and pick up from the Odd Down coach park, thereby alleviating congestion and supporting the Council’s intentions of improving air quality in the city centre.

Councillor Mark Shelford (Conservative, Lyncombe), Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, said: “The creation of coach parking at Odd Down forms the first part of a phased approach to delivering a long-term plan for management of coaches in Bath city centre. By providing a convenient and secure place for coaches to park up, Bath city centre will remain an attractive tourist destination, while also alleviating coach parking in unofficial locations on roads around the city.”

Councillor Paul Myers (Conservative, Midsomer Norton North), Cabinet Member for Economic and Community Regeneration, said: “Delivery of this new facility is part of the Council’s plans to deliver Bath Quays, whilst supporting the important visitor economy of the city. This work will ultimately lead to the development of a new space for home-grown and growing businesses. It is an important next phase in our work to secure more homes and high-value jobs in the city for future generations.”