Lib Dem-led council in row with motorists over double parking fines
Incidents of rogue parking in Bournemouth include cars left on double yellow lines, pavements, verges, roundabouts and across private driveways.
But visitors appear happy to take the financial hit of a £35 fine – only marginally more than car parking charges, which can cost £20 a day.
Now, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council has been given permission by the Department for Transport to double their standard parking fine to match London rates, so the minimum fine will be £70, or £140 if not paid within two weeks.
The move comes just weeks after the Lib Dem-led council about-turned on implementing residents' permits in the area, following a 'tsunami' of objections over the £70 cost to residents.
The trial scheme will operate throughout August, which is the seaside resort's busiest time of the year. Already over 4,000 penalty notices have been issued over three 'heatwave' weekends this year.
Tom Hayes, Labour MP for Bournemouth East, said: 'The parking fine fee has been capped for 20 years and it's frustrating for everyone.
'The hope is by having such a significant increase in parking fines it can really have a deterrent effect.'
At the same time, the local authority will be required to provide enough legal parking spaces to cater for visitors.
Residents have previously criticised BCP Council for it's 'war on motorists', after it sold a number of beach-front car parks, reduced the number of legal spaces available, and spent £3 million on cycle lanes that make access to driveways a 'nightmare'.
The council insisted there are spaces available within a short walk of the seafront which have been left unused.
The trial has prompted a mixed response as some residents insist the council is still not on their side.
'We will all be stung'
Jim James, a resident, said: 'Finally, about time. Let's see their faces when they realise it's not a measly £30 any longer.'
Another commenter posted: 'As much as locals think this is brilliant, it isn't. We will all be stung as a result. It is all about BCP making money.
'We should be welcoming visitors during the peak season and accommodating them sufficiently.
'There is not enough adequate parking as car parks are being auctioned off to the highest bidder. There are not any sufficient park and ride schemes. Local businesses will suffer as a result.'
The local authority welcomed the trial as they said they had been calling for greater powers to tackle illegal parking for six years.
Cllr Millie Earl, the leader of BCP Council, said: 'We welcome the fact the Government has recognised the problem we experience in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole with illegal and irresponsible parking.
'We have been asking Governments for more than six years to let us impose higher fines and our parking team now await final details on the work required to implement the trial in time for the August 1 deadline.
'Even at our busiest last weekend, there were enough parking spaces within a short walk of the seafront across our three towns and when visitors make a choice to park illegally, we know that residents, and responsible visitors, want us to take robust enforcement action.
'We want to encourage and support visitors to our wonderful area but just ask them to consider the safety of others when parking; and a level of fines that reflects the true costs of patrolling and enforcing will help us to do this.'
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