Parking permits for residents to be looked at by Dorset Council

It’s been revealed that Dorset Council is considering introducing on-street parking permits for residents across the area including Swanage, as part of its proposed changes to parking charges.

This is to address the concern that increased parking fees on popular roads like those along a seafront, could drive visitors to park in residential roads instead.

Advertisement 

The plans to streamline fees for on-street parking and Dorset Council owned car parks were discussed at the Dorset Council place and resources overview committee on Tuesday 19th October 2021.

Pay machine on Shore Road

It’s proposed that the cost of on-street parking in Shore Road will go up

A single policy on parking charges

The move to create a single policy on parking charges across the Dorset Council area will, say Dorset Council, ensure equality for residents, as currently in some areas it’s free to park all day but others have to pay £9.

In Swanage, this policy only affects on-street parking in Station Road and Shore Road as the car parks in Swanage are owned by Swanage Town Council and the charges are set separately.

On Shore Road along Swanage’s seafront, it could see drivers paying £12 for up to 10 hours all year round, although there’s a possibility that parking may be limited to short stay only.

Cars parked at Swanage seafront

Prime seafront parking in Shore Road in Swanage may rise to £12 for up to 10 hours throughout the year

Phase three to look at residents’ parking

During the debate, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for highways, travel and environment, councillor Ray Bryan said that this was phase two of the parking charges transformation project, but there was a phase three planned, which would look at parking for residents.

He also said that the next stage would include introducing a single policy on the use of Blue Badge parking permits:

“We’re already working on phase three, which will include stopping any potential for abuse of the very important blue badge parking permit and ensuring that residents, where possible, can park on the road, close to their homes, rather than visitors taking up those spaces.”

https://moderngov.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=152&MId=5135
Cars parked on the road in Swanage

There’s a concern that residents living on roads near to the seafront like De Moulham Road, where it’s free to park for everyone, won’t be able to find a space if parking charges increase on Shore Road

Overnight parking for motorhomes and lorries

Councillor Ray Bryan went on to say that phase three would also look at the provision of overnight parking for motorhomes and lorries, as well as improving facilities at car parks like better lighting, as well as some that could generate income. Although there was no suggestion this would be in Swanage.

He also suggested that multi-storey car parks could be built in the future on some current Dorset Council car parks, releasing part of the site for other land uses.

The phase two proposals of the parking charges transformation project will now be discussed at Dorset Council’s next cabinet meeting at 10 am on Monday 8th November 2021, which can be watched online.

A link will be added to the agenda, a week before the meeting.

Cars parked on the road in Swanage

Gilbert Road in Swanage is another street where residents already compete with visitors and workers to get a space

Share this story

Contact us

Do you have anything to add to this story?

We like to keep everything up-to-date, so if you know more, please help us by getting in touch.

Advertisement 

Top stories

Storm Ciarán sweeps into Swanage brushing away its flood defences Concrete blocks along Swanage seafront to protect against flooding were strewn across the road by the force of Storm Ciarán, while Studland beaches had about five years of coastal erosion ... 1 month ago BBC snubs Purbeck by filming Enid Blyton stories in Cornwall 1 week ago Polar Express magic arrives in Swanage for Christmas 3 weeks ago Crisis at Swanage Railway as £450,000 survival fund is launched 1 month ago Restaurant with perfect view of Swanage Bay to open in 2024 2 weeks ago

Most recent

Business is blooming in Swanage town centre Bucking the national trend of empty shop units, Swanage in Dorset is seeing lots more new businesses opening up in the heart of the seaside town. 11 hours ago Inspiring Christmas trees at Swanage festival 1 day ago Enchanted evenings light up Purbeck secret garden 2 days ago Swanage seafront survey result gives council splitting headache 3 days ago Plans for growth at Swanage community garden 4 days ago