Badly-behaved drivers in a seaside town will face hiked parking fines as part of a UK-first bid to combat summer parking chaos. Frequently ranked among the country’s most popular coastal resorts, it is no surprise that thousands of city dwellers have descended on the Dorset town’s sandy seafront during record-high temperatures this summer. Local authorities have raised concerns over a lack of parking etiquette from out-of-towners, however, with drivers caught abandoning their vehicles “on roundabouts, grass verges and the pavement” in a race to the beach.
Alongside clamping down on illegal motoring offences by debating the introduction of parking charges for all roads within a mile of the coast, the Liberal Democrat-run council has become the first in the country to obtain permission for a new scheme trialling “significantly higher” penalty charges. Under the trial, parking fines will by hiked by an unspecified but “significant” amount, and additional charges will be introduced for clamping and towing vehicles, to match London rates.
The measures will come into force for one month in August and, if successful, could be extended across the country.
Jessica Toale, Labour MP for Bournemouth West, told the Bournemouth Echo: “I’ve been working with the Government to give Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council greater powers to tackle the ongoing problems of illegal parking across Bournemouth.
“I know it’s been an issue for many residents, and while it’s been good to see the council taking action against selfish and irresponsible parking, the fines were minimal. That changes now.
“Transport Minister Heidi Alexander … has given BCP Council permission to trial increased Parking Charge Notices (PCNs) this summer. This means that the council can dish out higher fines to those who breach the parking rules – an important deterrent to keep our seaside town safe and accessible this summer.”
Council leader Millie Earl said she had raised the issue with consecutive Governments for more than six years and welcomed the opportunity to tackle “illegal and irresponsible” parking in the region.
“During our three busiest weekends of the year, we have issued more than 4,000 PCNs to drivers who disregard parking restrictions for the sake of a shorter stroll to the beach,” she added, as per the Bournemouth Echo.
“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.”
“The parking fine fee has been capped for 20 years and it’s frustrating for everyone,” Tom Hayes, Labour MP for Bournemouth East, said. “After years of being forgotten in Parliament, the Government is listening.”