New Studland parking rules confirmed by Dorset Council

A vehicle tow away zone is to come into force along Ferry Road in Studland but Dorset Council has said vehicles will still be allowed to legally park on the verges, along part of the road.

Following last summer’s scenes of chaotic parking, a temporary traffic management order for Ferry Road will come into force from Saturday 22nd May until Monday 1st November 2021.

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It’s intended to maintain unrestricted access along Ferry Road for emergency services, buses and other road users.

Studland tow away zone

Studland tow away zone marked by the green line along Ferry Road

Vehicles parked on Ferry Road in Studland
Purbeck Police
Cars parked in Ferry Road in Studland
Swanage Coastguard

Summer 2020 saw vehicles obstructing Ferry Road so vehicles like buses couldn’t get through

Ferry Road – Ferry terminal to point just before entrance to Knoll Beach car park

Crucially, the order will still allow vehicles to park on the verge between 6.30 am and midnight, between a point 275 metres north-west of Hardy’s Road (entrance to the National Trust’s Knoll Beach car park) and the Ferry Terminal.

Vehicles must be in the lay-bys and not over the yellow line on the road, otherwise they risk being towed away. They are not allowed to be parked on the verge overnight from midnight to 6 am. This is no change from the current rules. So basically, no sleeping in campervans overnight.

Ferry Road
Caroline Abbott
Cars parked on Ferry Road

Parking in the lay-by areas on the verge of the road is still allowed near the ferry and by Greenlands Farm, as long as the vehicle isn’t across the yellow line

Ferry Road – Point just before entrance to Knoll Beach car park to point just after Knoll House Hotel entrance

However, along Ferry Road from the point 275 metres north-west of Hardy’s Road (entrance to the National Trust’s Knoll Beach car park) and a point 50 metres south of the vehicle access to Knoll House Hotel no parking on the verge is allowed from 10 am to 7 pm.

There is no parking on this part of Ferry Road (on the road, over the yellow line) at any time. To do so, will risk not just a fixed penalty charge, as in the past, but being towed away.

The cost of releasing a vehicle that has been towed is £105, plus £20 per day vehicle storage.

Ferry Road parking restrictions
Entrance to National Trust Knoll Beach Car park
Knoll House Hotel

There’s no parking on the road or the verge from just before the entrance to the Knoll Beach car park until just past the entrance to the Knoll Beach Hotel

Studland Village

The tow away zone does not apply to Studland’s roads in the village. Dorset Council told Swanage.News:

“Unfortunately, some irresponsible drivers will choose to park either illegally or in a way that causes an obstruction for residents. Signage and road markings are in place in these areas to inform drivers of parking restrictions.”

Studland Parish Council refutes that adequate road markings are in place on the roads in the village, as many have faded or have not been repainted after road works.

At the Studland Parish Council meeting on Monday 17th May 2021, it was reported that the parish council had asked Dorset Council to repaint in particular, the yellow lines on the roads, so that motorists were able to clearly see where they couldn’t park.

School Lane in Studland

On School Lane in Studland village, there’s evidence that yellow lines have not been repainted following road works

Pay the £6,000 cost

The meeting heard that Dorset Council’s highways department had responded by saying that the village would have to wait several years for their turn to get them repainted, unless they wished to pay the £6,000 cost.

Dorset Council does plan to replace the single yellow lines in School Lane, near the village shop and Church Road with double yellow lines and while that work is scheduled to be done by the end of March 2022, it hasn’t been completed yet.

Map of School Lane and Church Road in Studland
Dorset Council

Map of School Lane and Church Road in Studland

Ferry Road parking restrictions

Dorset Council’s full answers to Studland parking questions

Question

Prior to the temporary traffic management order for Ferry Road, Studland, where and when could vehicles be legally parked along Ferry Road?

Dorset Council says…

The existing orders are as follows:

No waiting between the hours of 10 am and 7 pm, between 15th March and 30th September

Studland, Ferry Road – On both sides, from its junction with Beach Road to a point 275 metres north-west of its junction with Hardy’s Road

(Controlled Parking Zone) No waiting between the hours of midnight and 6.30 am.

Studland, Ferry Road – On both sides, from a point 275 metres north-west of its junction with Hardy’s Road in a northerly direction to its junction with the southern side of the roundabout prior to the toll booths, to encompass all land either side of the centre of the highway for a distance of 7.5 metres

The new temporary clearway restrictions will run in conjunction with the existing orders.

Question

Following the temporary traffic management order, can vehicles be parked legally anywhere along Ferry Road from 22nd May to 1st Nov 2021? If so, where and when?

Dorset Council says…

The new clearway restriction will run in conjunction with the two existing permanent traffic regulation orders at Studland, but it amends the No Waiting restriction within the existing Controlled Parking Zone.

So, yes, vehicles can be parked on the outside of the single yellow line (on the verge) legally between 6.30 am and midnight, between a point 275 metres north-west of Hardy’s Road and the Ferry Terminal. In this area, vehicles cannot park between the single yellow lines (on the road) at any time.

South of a point 275 metres north-west of Hardy’s Road, the existing No Waiting Order is still in force. This means that parking on the road between this point and a point 50 metres south of the vehicle access to Knoll House Hotel will not be allowed at any time. Parking on the verge in this area is not allowed from 10 am to 7 pm.

Question

What is Dorset Council doing to ensure that people don’t just park illegally in Studland’s side roads (where the tow away zone doesn’t apply)?

Dorset Council says…

Our civil enforcement officers will patrol the area as usual.

Unfortunately, some irresponsible drivers will choose to park either illegally or in a way that causes an obstruction for residents. Signage and road markings are in place in these areas to inform drivers of parking restrictions.

Question

Why is Dorset Council issuing the traffic management order? Isn’t the road privately owned?

Dorset Council says…

The lower part of Ferry Road (Corfe Castle end) is the responsibility of Dorset Council and the remaining of the road is private, however Dorset Council enforces the highway restrictions on the land.

This Order is required to prevent illegal parking on the carriageway to ensure that access is maintained for emergency service vehicles, service buses and the travelling public, and for the safety of all highway users.

Consultation has taken place with the landowner.

Workmen laying gravel on lay-bys in Ferry Road
Caroline Abbott

Workmen were laying gravel on the Ferry Road lay-by areas on Wednesday 19th May 2021

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