Discussions have started with local communities across the Dorset Council area to engage with them on a review of parking charges.
The parking transformation project has set up stakeholder groups to present initial findings from research and analysis to community representatives, and to gain specific local information on parking.
The nine stakeholder groups include residents, local business representatives and town and parish councillors.
Final details are currently being put into the proposals, which will be presented to the working groups on 6 April and will be followed with a four-week period for stakeholders to comment on the plans.
Dorset Council councillors were updated on the project during a webinar earlier this month.
Cllr Ray Bryan, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: “When Dorset Council was formed, we inherited a number of different charging strategies. As a result, we currently have 76 different permits in circulation, with varying rules and prices that, when compared, are not fair. For instance, car park charges span from being free to £9 for all day parking.
“Our proposal will centre around a three-level strategy that differentiates between the diverse and unique areas that Dorset enjoys – rural, costal and town. Alongside this, we’re also looking at a permit that is only available for Dorset Council residents, which will offer reduced parking charges in our car parks.
“We’re discussing issues at a local level within these working groups to best understand local parking pressures. We want a pricing strategy that works for as many people as possible.”
The first phase of the parking transformation project will come into effect on 1 April, when all-day charging in Lyme Regis and West Bay car parks will rise to £8, the charging period in Purbeck will align with other council car parks (8am to 6pm) and Sunday charging will start for car parks in Beaminster, Blandford, Bridport, Dorchester, Gillingham, Shaftesbury, Sherborne and Sturminster Newton.
This follows agreement by councillors at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 8 December.
Drivers using car parks in West Bay and Lyme Regis will now able to choose to park for one hour, two hours, three hours, four hours, six hours or all-day, with one hours parking starting at 50p and the all-day tariff now £6 in the low season and £8 during the peak season (April to October inclusive).
For workers who use these car parks, long stay parking permits (season tickets) are available via the Dorset Council website.
In ongoing support of the local economy, Dorset Council offers town councils six free parking days in Dorset Council car parks each year. This is made up of Small Business Saturday in December, one weekday in December and four days for events which generate valuable footfall for that town.
Residents reduced parking fees is an excellent idea.
The proposed increase from £2 to £8 a day to park at Lyme Regis is outrageous.
I think it was more outrageous that the all-day parking charge in a honeypot area such as Lyme Regis was only £2 per day. The extra parking income generated by the higher charge will help to keep our Council Tax bills at a lower level.
There should be one charge for locals and another for visitors
I agree with many of the public comments.
Increasing charges to any site, whether it be coastal or shopping will never attract visitors especially after this long lockdown period.
The towns need regeneration and visitors not the deterrent of increased charges.
The Sunday charging , surly is a retrograde step and likely to incur the council increase costs, employing wardens on a Sunday does not come cheap!
I would have thought as a ‘parking transformation project’ increases in parking charges would be the last item on the agenda, the first being lowering or eliminating parking charges where possible.
The leap in charge from 50p for one hour to £2 for two hours is ludicrous at West Bay. It leaves little time for a stroll and a bite to eat or a coffee without incurring the £2 “penalty” and therefore will deter visitors from lingering and enjoying local hospitality. This should change quickly to £1for two hours, then maybe + £1 for each subsequent hour up to the £8 the council have imposed. Albeit the 400% increase for all day parking is in itself scandalous
Parking in Weymouth is a problem. It is not covered by the Shoppers Permit. Why?
During the lockdowns you have moved to an apps on mobile phones as the main way of paying. However not everybody has mobiles and those who do, not all have internet connection.I have heard that using the phone number is not always successful. Will you be returning to card and or cash payment soon please?
Free parking for electric cars?
I have copied this from the ‘i’ (online news) an article dated 14/06/18 – ‘Across the UK, the average cost of parking in an off-street car park is £1.10 per hour while on-street parking costs £1.65 per hour. In London, however it’s £3 and £4.80 respectively.’
£2 for a day’s parking in incredibly cheap. Not surprised that has been increased although that does represent £1 an hr. A tad harsh! Why not have a discounted payment scheme for residents, for example scratch cards (Chelmsford uses this for residents) to put onto dashboards for the carparks in their respective area.