With recent rises in some public car parks in busy tourist areas, Dorset Council is urging people to check the cost benefits of its permits.
The cost of its permits has been frozen this year, with the Short Stay and Flexi car park permits offering savings for residents and workers:
Two hours parking every day in most of the council’s car parks.
Cost: £78 a year
How the savings add up:
If used for 2 hours a week = £1.50 a time.
If used for 2 hours daily = just over 21p a time.
Apply online for the short stay permit
For residents, businesses and workers.
Unlimited parking (or up to two hours in car parks where there is a maximum stay) in the majority of the council’s car parks 7 days a week.
Cost: £25 if purchased for a month, or £260 for 12 months, the equivalent of £5 a week for all-day, year-round parking.
Apply online for the flexi car park permit
While the council has introduced seasonal increases at car parks in busy resort and seafront areas, prices for tickets in other nearby car parks have not increased.
For example, in Weymouth, Governors Lane, Nothe car park and the former council offices car park at North Quay park charges remain unchanged.
Find all Dorset Council’s car parks.
Councillor Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: “With rising inflation over the past year, the cost of running and maintaining our car parks has increased significantly. We have strived to minimise the impact on residents and businesses, keeping tariffs in car parks outside busy seafront areas at last year’s prices.
“Furthermore, our money-saving permit costs have been frozen. In these challenging times, where the cost of living is on the rise, we urge anyone who regularly uses our car parks, even if it’s just once a week, to explore the suitability of a permit.”
As well as freezing the price of permits, overnight free parking remains between 6pm and 8am, Monday to Sunday (unless otherwise specified as 24 hours).
A paper parking permit is available for people without access to a smart phone or other online services, telephone 01305 221000 for details.
Dorset Council country park car parks are not included and have a separate permit scheme.
Dorset Council. Would do well to look at the parking clock scheme as provided by NFDC. For an annual cost of £30 you can short stay for 3hrs in 11 NFDC towns at various car parks in the scheme. 29 in all.
The ‘clock’ is not registration allied either it’s any car.
Dorset, your car parking charges are scandalous/daylight robbery. You should be ashamed. Your charges put off residents/ visitors coming to Wimborne
Good evening- I would be interested to know what the significant costs of running the Sturminster newton car park were for 2022/2023 and the allocated budget for 2023/2024. Many thanks
Colin chalkley – Marnhull resident
Hi Colin, I have sent this to our Freedom of Information team so they can respond to you. More about Freedom of Information here: https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/your-council/about-your-council/freedom-of-information/freedom-of-information Regards, Claire
NFDC offers a ‘Parking Clock’ for an annual fee of £30. This allows residents and visitors to park in a number of NFDC towns for up to 3 hours. Dorset councils parking charges in comparison are scandalous. Who is going to use their pass every day, no one works/shops every day which is how you justify your daily ‘cost saving’. If NFDC can do it so can Dorset. Wimborne car parking costs are no incentive to visit the town and stay.
Please can you explain what you mean by the costs of running and upkeep of the car parks because we see nothing that needs upkeep that’s obvious. Also bmth and poole residents should get discounted car parking for the beach car parks……we live here and pay our council taxes. Charge the visitors the extra not the residents. You want Dorset people on your side then start thinking about the little things that make a difference. Most people don’t have £260 to pay in one go for a permit.
Permits should be cut by a third. Car park layouts should be reviewed and the spaces made wider for todays cars not the Model T
I don’t understand why the short stay Dorset permit is twice the price of the Hampshire one, why?
Sadly Dorset Council you have only replied to one question/comment and that you have ‘shifted’ to the F. O. I. Department.
Little point in having a comments opportunity if you can’t find time to respond. I think my earlier comments are worth a response even if you don’t.
M. K.
Hi Martyn, I couldn’t see a specific question in your first comment but I have passed your comments about the cost of permits to our parking team. Regarding the comparison of charges, I’ve quickly checked the price of Wimborne car parks against those in the New Forest and, although our short term parking permits are more expensive, our Wimborne charges are the same, or cheaper. Regards, Claire
In answer to your concerns. My original comment, no response, was entered on June 2nd. I have received a comprehensive reply from Dorset Council Strategic Parking.