Businesses in the city claim changes to parking in Royal Victoria Park are having an impact on trade.
Last month Bath and North East Somerset Council removed the last free parking available in the city and introduced pay and display machines in the park.
The move was made to prevent commuters from parking there all day and to allow users of the park easier access.
However, a month after the changes, businesses near the park are claiming the parking charges are putting people off.
Joe Cussens, who owns the Marlborough Tavern, said: "It certainly seems to have had an effect on our daytime trade.
"The bottom line is at the moment it is a very, very quiet park and you would have thought this time of year with this weather it should be brimming with people enjoying the facilities.
"In trying to deter commuters from using the park as somewhere to park all day, they've actually just put in a barrier or obstacle for people wanting to use the park for recreation.
"They've basically put in a scheme where you have to pay whether you stay five minutes or a couple of hours."
Mr Cussens believes the old scheme which limited areas of the park to four hours parking was sufficient and just needed better enforcement by the council.
Toby Brett, from the Victorian Pub and Kitchen, said: "What has been noticeable is that the parking on Upper Bristol Road is now busier than it was and the park play area does not appear as busy. Both of these will have a knock-on effect to trade. A good solution would be for the new paid for parking to be free for the first two hours and then payable after this time."
Cafe owner Elena Versino, who runs Picnic in the Park, added: "Parking is difficult enough as it is around here but since people have to pay to go to the park they won't come and they will choose to go to their local park.
"I don't understand why they didn't just do half pay and display and half two hours only for free – they have enough traffic wardens going round to check."
The situation is complicated by the one-way system in Marlborough Lane because of work by the Marlborough Tavern.
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