New seafront parking charges set to fund tow trucks

New on-street parking charges have been proposed close to Bournemouth and Poole's seafront.

Under the plan, charges will be applied in the Boscombe and Southbourne areas, as well as at West Cliff and Branksome Chine.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council is to target all roads that currently have free parking extending either 0.3 miles (0.5km) or 0.6 miles (1km) back from the seafront.

The council said money generated would help pay for tow trucks and enforcement measures against illegal parking.

It comes as the authority is facing renewed criticism for the way it deals with illegal parking near the seafront, with many motorists abandoning cars on double yellow lines.

The council said introducing the new charges would go some way to help with combatting the type of illegal parking seen last weekend, when cars were abandoned on roundabouts and double yellow lines as people flocked to Bournemouth's beaches.

More than 1,000 vehicles were ticketed last weekend but only 10 were towed away.

Councillor Richard Herrett, portfolio holder for destination, leisure and commercial operations, said: "If paid-for parking was introduced, the money generated would help fund additional parking enforcement, including increasing the number of vehicles which could be towed away in the worst parking instances"

"Additionally, the team would be able to enforce illegal parking across a wider area."

People living on affected streets will be encouraged to buy an annual residents' parking permit costing £70.

There would be a proposed lower tariff during low season (1 November– 14 March), with a higher tariff for the high season (15 March - 31 October).

Local shopping areas such as Southbourne Grove and Canford Cliffs Village are excluded from the proposed paid-for parking areas.

A consultation on the plans ends on 1 August.

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