MOTORISTS in Christchurch are facing new council fines if they park out of line, following a national shake-up of the car parking penalty system.

At a meeting of the community services committee on Wednesday, Christchurch Borough Council approved recommendations to adopt a new-two-tier system as part of guidelines issued by the Department for Transport Secretary of state Ruth Kelly believes it is unfair for motorists who receive the same penalty charge regardless of the seriousness of the parking offence committed.

Offenders currently have to pay £60 under the existing system, but according to the new charges - which will see some parking fines classified as less serious than others - the two-tier system will see fines priced at £50 and £70 respectively.

Lower level offences, for which drivers will be charged £50, include parking for longer than permitted, parking beyond the bay markings and parking in a closed car park.

Drivers who park in disabled bays without a valid badge or who park in a taxi rank or bus stop or cause an obstruction when parked, will now have to pay an increased fine of £70.

If the fines are paid within 14 days, then the amount charged will be reduced by 50 per cent, in line with the current system.

However, while some may think the hike in charges is unreasonable, it appears drivers are not the only ones losing out, with the council standing to lose an estimated £12,000 when these changes go ahead next March.

Nigel Davies, director of community services, said: "Essentially we have made these changes because of national legislation guidance that has come about. Christchurch and its adjoining authorities have chosen to go with the higher of the two bands of parking charges, in an effort to reduce the level of council tax.

"Of course the best result for the town is that we don't have to issue any fines to motorists infringing parking laws but if we do have to, then this is a much fairer system because they are levied at different offences, reducing the level of frustration for drivers."