PARKING wardens handed out an average of 2.5 fines to motorists every day in Dorset last year, figures have suggested. 

The 27 civil enforcement officers working in the Dorset Council area handed out more fines in 2023/24 compared with the previous financial year. 

Figures from a Freedom of Information request reveal in 2022/23, 20,228 fines were handed out across the authority’s area resulting in £685,382 of fines collected. 

And in the year 2023/24, this had risen by 24 per cent to 25,166 fines dished out – resulting in Dorset Council collecting £771,107 from motorists. 

A Dorset Council spokeswoman told the Echo the parking wardens work seven days a week across the county. 

She added: “Our new machines, installed in the summer of 2023, along with improvements to our processes and systems, have enhanced our enforcement capabilities. 

“Inconsiderate and unlawful parking is a problem throughout the country, not just in Dorset and our officers work hard to enforce the law.” 

Across the council’s area, the figures from last year show The Esplanade in Weymouth had the most fines handed out at 1,006, bringing in £35,533. 

Over in Swanage, parking wardens ticketed 498 vehicles parked illegally in High Street resulting in £14,946.  

In total, the town saw £58,578 worth of fines including £2,708 in Shore Road and £11,955 in Broad Street car park. 

Ferry Road in Studland saw 129 tickets handed out collecting £4,305, in Corfe Castle there was £12,225 collected and in Wareham, £19,210 worth of tickets was dished out. 

In Wimborne, parking wardens took in more than £45,000 worth of fines (including £5,657 in High Street) while in Blandford, there was £34,523 worth of fines handed out, including £5,343 in Church Lane car park. 

Motorists in Weymouth were fined a total of £250,539 in parking fines – this includes £35k at The Esplanade and £18k in Pavilion car park. 

But in Dorchester, this was much lower at £82k in fines for the financial year 2023/24 and just over £56k in Bridport. 

The spokeswoman added: “As well as regular checks, we also target our patrols in areas where there is a high number of issues. 

“Income from car parking is re-invested into the running of our parking service and the maintenance of our car parks and on-street parking places. Any surplus is spent on highway improvements.” 

Parking tickets in Dorset can cost motorists £70, although this is reduced by 50 per cent if paid within 28 days.