BCP car parking charges set to increase by 10 per cent

BCP Council have approved plans to increase parking costs at seafront car parks and adjacent on-street areas, seeing each price band go up by approximately 10 per cent. 

The changes come as local authorities across the country continue to battle challenges of the cost-of-living crisis.

• Read more: Why BCP Council want to raise debt limit to more than a billion pounds

Julian McLaughlin, director for transport and engineering said: “Our seafront car parks are a major income generator for our towns and are used primarily by people traveling from outside the local area coming to visit our popular resort.

"The changes are expected to generate an extra £359,000 during the 2022/23 financial year to reinvest in parking services and cover the rising costs of operating parking across the BCP region.''

The higher tariffs are expected to take approximately 10 weeks to implement but have already been subject to criticism.

The Pavilion car park

Lib Dem leader councillor Vikki Slade said: “I’m concerned that we’re putting more pressure on people when the cost of living is already spiralling.

“I am surprised the council are going so high- 10 per cent is a big increase.

“I recognise that the council has increased costs, but I’d rather see them spread that load. There are vast areas where we don’t charge for parking. If you look at West Cliff and parts of Boscombe Overcliff it’s free to park. If we charged those people a reasonable amount to park on those roads, we’d be able to bring in more income to support the council without pricing families out of a day at the seaside.”

• Read more: What you can expect to pay under the new tariffs proposed for seafront car parks

Labour councillor George Farquhar said: “I don’t support it. A 10 per cent rise is just not acceptable.

"Not everybody has access to a green space or the seafront, and a lot of families can’t travel by public transport and need to take a vehicle, so those will be the first affected."

Discussion has also begun into the impact the increased charges will have on residents living across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. 

Councillor George Farquhar added: “I think we should have an hour free parking in all our service car parks before we start charging. That will differentiate between our residents who park for shopping, or for a short trip out to the park with the kids, from our day trippers.”

The Pavilion car park

Christchurch Independent, Lesley Dedman agreed that more support should be in place for residents in response to the changes. She said: “There should be a special rate for locals. It’s really sad that they have to keep paying to go to their own beach.

“I know the parking charges have to go up, but it is residents who will suffer.”

Councillors were presented with the impact of the cost of living crisis in a report recently.

In an item also discussing the council raising their debt threshold to £1.3billion, a report stated: "The council will be particularly exposed in respect of rising energy costs, especially electricity (street lighting / leisure centres / owned building) and gas, and contracts which include inflationary causes such as waste disposal.

"To emphasise the volatility, the price of electricity and gas increased by 80% within a single 24-hour period after February. The resultant financial challenge will be felt by both our community, be those residents or businesses, and directly by the Council with costs significantly above those assumed in the budget."