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Bournemouth 'first in UK' to trial parking fine rise

Galya Dimitrova
BBC News
BCP Council A red car is being lifted onto a flatbed truck. The is a man in an orange florescent jacket standing next to the white truck. It is a sunny day with a blue sky and the truck is parked on a residential street where you can see a four-storey building. The road has double yellow lines.BCP Council
The move comes after a record number of parking fines and towed away vehicles over the weekend

Bournemouth is set to be "the only place in the country to trial significantly higher parking fines this summer", an MP has said.

Bournemouth East Labour MP Tom Hayes said the government had given the green light for a one-month pilot to run in the seaside resort throughout August.

It comes after the weekend of 12 and 13 July saw a record number of parking fines and towed away vehicles.

Leader of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council, Millie Earl, said it was "pleasing that Ministers have now decided to act".

Tom Hayes MP being interviewed for BBC News. He is wearing a grey suit, no tie and a blue and white shirt. A hedge can be seen behind him.
MP Tom Hayes, who fought for the trial, said Bournemouth could be "setting an example for national change"

The trial can only go ahead if BCP Council meets a few criteria, including demonstrating there is sufficient legal parking capacity in the area and informing the public, particularly visitors.

Parking fines will rise significantly and additional charges for clamping, towing and vehicle storage will increase to London rates, where the release fee is £280.

The results would be used by the government to decide whether higher fines could be rolled out across the country.

Lib Dem MP Vikki Slade backed BCP's upcoming motion on raising fines and raised the issue in Parliament.

Labour MP for Bournemouth West Jessica Toale, who also supported the campaign, said: "I know it's been an issue for many residents and, while it's been good to see the council taking action against selfish and irresponsible parking, the fines were minimal.

"That changes now."

Mr Hayes said that "after years of being forgotten in Parliament, the government is listening".

He added the town could be "setting an example for national change".

Leader of BCP Council Millie Earl said: "During our three busiest weekends of the year we have issued more than 4,000 penalty charge notices to drivers who disregard parking restrictions for the sake of a shorter stroll to the beach.

"We want to encourage and support visitors to our wonderful area but just ask them to consider the safety of others when parking, and a level of fines that reflects the true costs of patrolling and enforcing will help us to do this."

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