PRICES at every Bournemouth town centre and shopping area car park are being frozen for the third year running, it has been confirmed.

Motorists have been promised they will not have to pay any more to visit shops in either the town centre or at any of the borough’s main shopping areas in the forthcoming financial year.

And there are also plans to bring in special deals for Bournemouth residents at a new 400-space multi-storey car park due to be built at Madeira Road West.

Cllr Michael Filer, cabinet member for transport, said: “This is the third year running that prices are being held with no increases and I would think this must be a record.

“We want to encourage the motorists to come into town and use our shops and not to travel distances to other shopping centres.

“At the same time we wish to attract visitors to stay in the town and enjoy everything we have to offer.

“This price freeze comes despite an increase in VAT in the last financial year.”

The planned car park for Made-ira Road West will replace spaces lost by building on the Leyton Mount car park and on part of the Madeira Road site.

“The council has earmarked £3.9million of reserves to fund this and it is expected to take a year to build.

Cllr Filer added: “We want this to be an attractive option for commuters and town centre shoppers. We will be looking at concessionary season tickets and pricing for Bournemouth residents.”

Nigel Hedges, President of Bournemouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce, welcomed the car park price freeze.

He told the Daily Echo: “This is great news for Bournemouth because it makes the town even better value for money for shoppers.

“The Chamber has been involved in all the decision making with the council’s parking and enforcement teams.

"It’s always been our view that you can’t sell anything to people who are not in town.”