Drivers heading to Bournemouth are being warned that new parking fines of up to £160 have come into force as part of a trial aimed at tackling illegal parking.
Trial details
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council has introduced the higher penalty charges across some of its busiest coastal roads after receiving approval from the Department for Transport. The trial began on August 4 and will run until August 31, covering roads between Sandbanks in Poole and Southbourne in Bournemouth.
Under the scheme, the highest penalty charge notice (PCN) has increased from £70 to £160, although it is reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days. Towaway charges have also risen during the trial to £280.
Support and criticism
The council said it had already run a similar trial last summer and claimed it helped reduce illegal parking while improving access on some of the area's busiest roads.
Richard Herrett, portfolio holder for Destination, Leisure and Commercial Operations, said the tougher penalties were needed to improve safety. He told the BBC: "The inconsiderate, illegal, and dangerous parking we see on our seafront every single summer continues to put people at risk. The evidence is clear: tougher fines work. They cut illegal parking, improve safety and have strong backing from the people most affected - including 59% of residents and 76% of local businesses who gave their feedback to last year's trial."
David Bailey, president of the area's destination management board, said illegal parking had become a major issue during previous summers. He added: "We welcome everyone to Bournemouth, we are a tourist resort. We want everyone to come, but some people come and they park their cars in the craziest of places."
Mr Bailey said the previous level of fines had not always discouraged motorists from parking illegally. He continued: "So why not park wherever you want to? People love to park as close to the sea as possible, preferably on the sand if they could get away with it."
However, not everyone is convinced the higher penalties will solve the problem. Andrea Charman, chair of the Branksome Park and Canford Cliffs Residents Association, said she had twice been unable to get out of her driveway because of illegally parked vehicles during last year's summer season. She told the BBC: "If you've come a long way to take your kids to the beach and it's sweltering and you can't find anywhere, you are going to park wherever you can. So actually I don't think it will be a great deterrent, I really think people will still be parking on corners and all sorts of other things, it's not going to actually end the problem."
While some residents have blamed illegal parking on a lack of car parks, BCP Council said there had been spare parking capacity on every day so far this year.
