CHANGES in parking fees across Dorset will see some winners and some losers – according to the senior councilor leading the project.
Overall, many people, including those visiting the county, are likely to pay more – although a stripped-down permit system could help some locals as 70 existing permits are scrapped to replace them with just two.
Portfolio owner Cllr Ray Bryan says no date has yet been set for the changes and no firm decisions have been made, although the new tariffs are likely to roll out in the new year.
He said the council is determined to roll out the same rules across the county in order to get rid of the previous fee structures of the six previous councils.
“It is very different at the moment. It’s very confusing for residents and visitors … in some places you can park for free all day, in others it costs 9 pounds, ”he said.
As things stand, some places will see bigger gains than others: in Wimborne residents are complaining that their current passport will go from £ 80 a year for most to £ 260 a year; while parking fees are being introduced for the first time for the residents of Verwood. Shaftesbury is unhappy that it has been included in a higher tariff zone than neighboring Gillingham.
Several councilors have warned that if fees are raised too high, people will try to park for free on the back streets, adding to congestion for local residents.
But Cllr Bryan says if this happens the Dorset Council will act quickly and put parking restrictions in place to stop it.
He says another phase of the parking lot review will likely be aimed at finding allocated RV and RV parking spaces to legally stay in and more space for truck parking. He said the council could also look for suitable locations for multi-story parking and other ways to increase the revenue from its parking spaces. Care is also taken to upgrade some parking spaces, including adding lights to poorly lit parking spaces.
Cllr Bryan says any additional income will be used to support the £ 60million annual highway budget, of which only £ 3million comes from community taxpayers.
He says a new “pop-and-shop” permit, which costs £ 78 a year, will allow up to two hours a day in short-term parking, while a “live, work and play permit” will allow limited access to short-term parking full access to long term parking for £ 260 per year.
Tourist parking is charged at a maximum rate of £ 10 for 10 hours in high season with a maximum of £ 6 in low season and includes Weymouth Beaches car parks, Corfe Castle, Lyme Regis, some Portland car parks, Lyme Regis and West Bay.
The next lower tier has low and high season rates and is charged at a maximum of £ 6 for 10 hours and £ 3.50 for four hours. These include Dorchester, Blandford, Bridport, Shaftesbury, Sherborne, Wareham, Weymouth (excluding the beach) and Wimborne.
The lowest level for Beaminster, Charmouth, Ferndown, Gillingham, Sturminster Newton, Verwood and West Bexington will also be seasonal, up to a maximum of £ 10 for Charmouth and West Bexington for ten hours or £ 4 out of season. The hourly charges in these car parks are £ 1 for two hours in low season and £ 3 for two hours in high season.
A number of new on-street parking fees are also proposed, which will be controlled by the community, a maximum of £ 8 in some areas and £ 12 in others, with an additional £ 2 and £ 4 overnight parking fee.
