Beachgoers face higher illegal parking fines again

Visitors to beaches at a seaside resort could face higher fines for illegal parking again this summer.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council was allowed to more than double penalties during a trial last year after cars were reported being abandoned on pavements and blocking fire stations during busy periods.

The government has now told the council that the trial can proceed again so long as it demonstrates there is sufficient legal parking capacity in the area and ensure the public – particularly visitors – are properly informed.

The council said it was pleased the government had "listened to our repeated calls, especially given the recent increase in illegal parking".

Parking in the car park closest to Bournemouth seafront - Bath Road South - costs £28, with a cost of a fine only £35 if paid within 14 days.

The trial last year, which applied to roads between Sandbanks in Poole and Southbourne in Bournemouth, saw fines increased to £160, reducing to £80 if settled within 14 days.

Other tariffs included a £100 wheel clamp charge and £280 to release a vehicle from a pound - charges comparable to those seen in London.

BCP Council deemed the trial a success and, alongside Bournemouth East Labour MP Tom Hayes, called on the government to make the changes permanent.

Hayes told the BBC: "It's so important because residents are telling me that they want piece of mind in their communities.

"They are consistently having to put up with illegal and unsafe parking chaos, where cars can be abandoned on roundabouts, on the seafront, just so that people, often from out of town, will have a shorter stroll to the beach. That's wrong.

"People should be able to live in their communities knowing that others will respect the rules".

However, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander was critical of the way the council proceeded with its report of the trial without consulting the Department for Transport (DfT).

"In supporting BCP's August 2025 trial, my officials suggested a number of steps to strengthen both the robustness of the analysis and interpretation of findings," she said.

"This advice was not followed completely.

"Moreover, while BCP shared early drafts, the final report was published without further engagement with DfT officials. This must not be repeated".

In a report to the DfT, BCP said it issued 7% fewer tickets during the trial month than in August 2024, despite similar weather.

The authority said it was asking the government to make the fines permanent.

But the AA has heavily criticised the council for applying the £160 fines elsewhere.

Edmund King, the organisation's president, said: "The report shows that the Department for Transport was not happy with the way the council used its special powers.

"It says drivers who did what the council wanted and parked in official car parks were subsequently given the bigger fines for everyday offences such as parking over the line and failing to display a ticket properly."

Councillor Richard Herrett, the council's portfolio holder for road safety, said: "Last year, the secretary of state asked us to implement a nationally significant trial on 10 working days notice, during which our officers worked tirelessly, and collaboratively, with officials from the Department for Transport.

"We are proud of the work undertaken by our officer team which has since been recognised as best practice by other local authorities, and industry experts.

"We delivered everything that was possible in the timescale set by the DfT.

"We are committed to working with Government to secure a permanent solution to reduce illegal parking. This trial offers another opportunity to show that tougher enforcement works, and we believe these powers should apply across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole."

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