Bristol Choir Fights Park Fee Hike

A postnatal choir in Bristol, known as the Bring Your Own Baby (BYOB) choir, is at the center of a dispute over new park licensing fees. The choir, which holds classes for new mothers in three city parks, faces an annual charge of £400, making it difficult to maintain affordability for its members. The founder of the choir has highlighted concerns that this fee is disproportionately high, even suggesting that professional dog walkers are charged less.

In response to the growing dissatisfaction, hundreds of people have signed a petition calling on the Bristol City Council to review its new licensing scheme. This scheme, implemented last month, requires various small businesses to pay for operating in public parks. The council asserts that the licensing is a necessary measure to ensure park safety and is not intended to favor any specific business type. The situation highlights the impact of new regulations on community-based enterprises.