Following extensive discussion by Councillors, Dorset Council has revised the proposed changes to car parking arrangements.
These amended recommendations were presented at Cabinet this morning (Tuesday 8 December) and agreed by Councillors.
After notice was provided to Town and Parish Councils of the proposed changes in mid-October, many people voiced their concerns, especially considering the current financial pressures faced by businesses and regarding the introduction of charges up until 8pm.
These recommendations were discussed at the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday 1 December. Comments from the committee were passed to Cllr Ray Bryan, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, who has worked closely with Dorset Council officers to consider the feedback and change the recommendations.
The recommendations as they were agreed are: –
- Increase the all-day charge from £2 to £8 in Lyme Regis and West Bay. This will be a graduated charge, like we have in place in Weymouth
- Implementation of Sunday charging. This recommendation stays as before, but Town and Parish Councils can ask for free days for special events
- Extend morning charges in Purbeck to begin at 8am. This stays as was recommended.
The original recommendation to extend evening charges to 8pm has been withdrawn.
Special arrangements for workers who require all day parking in West Bay and Lyme Regis will be considered in due course, as will local arrangements for Sunday markets and car boot sales.
The changes will come into effect on 1 February. Further changes to car parking arrangements – including resident and shoppers’ permits – will also be discussed in the new year.
Cllr Bryan also announced that current free parking arrangements for NHS and Care Workers will remain in place until midnight on Thursday 31 December.
Originally run for a limited time earlier this year but reinstated during the most recent lockdown period, Dorset Council is offering continued free parking for NHS and Care Workers throughout December 2020.
Provided they are on duty and displaying a relevant permit, or they have registered with Dorset Council, NHS and Care Workers can continue to use any Dorset Council-operated off-street car park free of charge until the end of 31 December 2020.
Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said:
“We have listened to the concerns around the changes to car parking arrangements and amended our recommendations accordingly. I feel that the new changes strike a balance between supporting our town centres and high streets, as well as ensuring charging is fair and can sustain our car parks across the county. I’d like to thank the many Councillors and officers who have provided feedback and worked hard to get this result, which I am very pleased with.
“I’m also pleased to be able to support our colleagues in the NHS and Care sectors by extending our free parking offer throughout December. Despite the recent lockdown period ending, these workers will continue to provide a vital service to some of our most vulnerable and isolated residents over the festive period. It makes sense to keep this scheme running for a few more weeks and also ensure no-one is caught out when the offer ends from New Year’s Day.
“I’d also like to remind everyone that there is free Christmas parking for shoppers both this Saturday and next (12 and 19 December) in Dorset Council car-parks. Visitors should check signage on site and on our website for details.”
To register as a NHS worker for free off-street parking whilst working, please e-mail parking@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk, providing your full name, evidence of employer details and vehicle registration number. You will receive a response email and your details will be added to our system so we know not to issue a Penalty Charge Notice to this vehicle.
The 400% increase is a total disgrace and seaside traders will pay a high price
The impact of parking charge rises will affect each community differently, depending on how each public car park is used, and importantly who uses it; whether visitors or locals, shoppers or essential key workers. I don’t think a centralised approach is appropriate and I would have thought it better for each local council to be allowed to decide the best policy to fit their community.
There is no justification for increasing parking charges in Lyme Regis from £2 to £8 for all day parking. Graduated or not.
The town council are killing the attractiveness of the town. The TIC has been disposed off, dogs on the beach have been banned from next year, now parking is hiked up.
There will come a time when Lyme will no longer be a place that people want to go.
This is definitely not the way forward.
The proposed car parking increases are outrageous.
They are the exact opposite of what is required to support town centres.
Now that people have experienced on line shopping for so long they will not be returning to the high street.
Watch the shops close down.
Local residents should have much reduced rates. Residents in meadow lands and other estates will be overrun
What has happened to consultation even our local councillors didn’t have prior knowledge of the sudden changes that effect the seaside resorts in West Dorset. West Bay and Lyme Regis don’t have the same facilities as Weymouth why have they been punished? Any increases should be phased in.
I am afraid you do not understand for what reason I am not sure, the high streets etc are dying, the imposing of high car park charges will accelerate this and soon there will be nobody who has a need to park and all your income from car parking will disappear along with the business rates.
The increase for tourist parking from 2 to 8 pounds is senseless.
We do not visit Weymouth already because of the inflated charges.
Regardless of the current abnormal situation, how can increasing the all day parking charge by a multiple of 4 be justified?
If the real objective is to deter visitors, shoppers , day trippers et al – in fact anyone from visiting Lyme Regis and West Bay – why not say so? Expect an adverse reaction from local retailers and the hospitality sector.
There was no consulation on the 400% increase in daily car park charges in West Bay and Lyme Regis. It will destroy businesses in West Bay. Why not only increase these charges for motorhome parking?
A 400% increase is an outrage, and completely inappropriate in these times when traders need supporting. Unbelievable. Who are these people who’ve come up wih this?
So telling… “increase the charges… like we have in Weymouth”. Have these people ever visited Gillingham? It is actually not like Weymouth in many ways, no beach, no Sunday shops, no entertainment, but you say we should pay the same to park. Ghost town!
I would just add that these charges hit the towns shops . Often I would stop for a coffee if not constrained by the time limit on my ticket
Parking at any time in Dorset should have a two hour free parking if you are a council tax payer within the county to encourage local people to shop locally, thus supporting local trade. A relevent sticker in a windscreen to prove council tax paid.
Evening parking should be free after 6.00pm again to encourage locals etc to support relevent shows and events
Ahh. The benefits of a unitary council!!!!! Weymouth’s disgracefully high parking charges replicated in other resorts. This will stop people going to West Bay and Lyme Regis. Just waiting for a similarly massive hit on the Shopper’s Parking Permit.
I hope you will change the meters in
Lyme Regis to hourly charges as we will not pay £8 to park and walk into town to shop. £2 was ok for 2 – 3 hours but 8 forget it. We will drive to Devon