Parking charges in Royal Victoria Park are to be reduced by 50 per cent.
Bath and North East Council has announced that following a review of the controversial charges, which were introduced in the park last year, the cost of parking for up to two hours would be dropped to 50p per hour from £1. The cost of four hour parking will remain the same.
The authority has said the changes will start within the next six weeks.
The council is also extending the time limit on parking bays on the western side of the park by the children's area from two hours to four.
Last June, in a move to stop the area being used for free all-day parking and to improve the park's look, charges were introduced by B&NES Council but the move was criticised by local business owners who claimed the introduction had stopped people using the park.
Cabinet member for transport, Councillor Caroline Roberts (Lib-Dem, Newbridge), said the changes were a result of listening to concerns.
"The policy has achieved what the Council intended by removing the chokehold that cars have had around the green spaces of one of the country's finest parks. It has become an environment where people on foot can relax and enjoy, rather an all-day car park.
"We recognise that people want to stay longer to enjoy the park so we propose increasing the number of four hour bays beside the children's area specifically so that families don't feel rushed for time when they visit.
"Those people wanting to park in the two hour zone will also pay less. There are procedures we must go through to carry these measures out, but our intention is to do so as soon as possible."
However, the price reduction has been criticised by Joe Cussens, who owns the Marlborough Tavern.
"To me they are missing the point. This seems like a typical council thing to do - they are trying the please everyone but it doesn't address the issue.
"It doesn't matter how much they charge it is still a barrier.
"At the weekend the weather was lovely. On Sunday the park was full but on Saturday it was only a fraction full. They should have two hours free."
