MPs in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have been urged to help sort Bournemouth's parking issue, and allow the council to hand out higher fines to nuisance drivers.

Boscombe East & Pokesdown ward councillor Andy Jones, wants the current maximum fine of £70 to be increased in line with London and has written to the five BCP MPs to ask for their help.

It comes after a weekend in which drivers parked on verges and irresponsibly, with bus services also disrupted once again.

Read more: Was this the worst parking in BCP at the weekend?

Bournemouth Echo: Bad parking on East Cliff in BournemouthBad parking on East Cliff in Bournemouth

Cllr Jones said: “Obviously regular enforcement is important and that's something that the council reviews on a regular basis, but I think the most pressing issue now is that it's not acting as enough of a deterrent.

“It has to be a detterent to motorists. What we're seeing at the moment is an increasing number of motorists parking willy nilly without any care, it's not acceptable and i think until the fine level is raised at least in line with London, if not higher, then I can't really see that this situation is ever going to improve. We will continue to have issues year after year after year."

Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns said: “Myself and others such as Robert Syms have tried to engage with the government not just when it's a problem for a few weekends in the summer but throughout the year. In the past I have had meetings with the secretary of state for transport on this and urged the government to look at this but the challenge I am told is it requires primary legislation.

Read more: Illegal parking in Southbourne over the weekend

“Local authorities are in a good position to draw together the emergency services and others to make that case to government where the parking isn't just criminal it is criminally irresponsible, and it is life endangering at times.

"I saw it this weekend but it's up to local authorities to make this case to central government on a sustained and organised basis."

Bournemouth Echo: Bad parking on Bournemouth East Cliff. Photo from Barbara BirdBad parking on Bournemouth East Cliff. Photo from Barbara Bird

Christchurch MP Sir Chris Chope said: “When this last came up, I suggested to the council that they should use the powers that they've got to tow vehicles that are illegally parked because that is a strong deterrent. And that is what they actually do in London.

"And what I haven't been able to get my head around is why BCP Council doesn't do more of that and I think they could, they could employ contractors to do it.

"What residents want is for the council to take enforcement action to prevent people and to remove vehicles that are illegally parked."