Bournemouth, a popular seaside town in Dorset, has doubled its parking fines to combat what officials describe as "wild west" motorists causing chaos during the summer months. The Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) council has raised penalties for illegal parking on over 500 residential roads to £160, up from the previous £80. Fines for vehicles that need to be towed away have also increased from £105 to £280.
These increased fines are part of a trial period that will last until the end of August, coinciding with the peak holiday season. The measure targets 543 residential roads located near the town's seven-mile-long seafront. The council stated that previous fines, which were reduced to £35 if paid promptly, had failed to deter drivers from parking illegally on double yellow lines, grass verges, roundabouts, and private driveways in their attempts to reach the beach.
Richard Herrett, a member of the BCP council, emphasized the need for stricter enforcement, stating that "inconsiderate, illegal, and dangerous parking" during the summer poses a risk to residents and visitors. He added that tougher fines have proven effective in reducing illegal parking, improving safety, and have significant support from those directly affected. David Bailey, president of the area's destination management board, described the illegal parking in past years as "unmanageable."
The trial zone for the higher fines covers roads between Sandbanks in Poole and Southbourne in Bournemouth. However, some motorists have criticized the council's approach, suggesting it is too punitive and lacks alternative solutions. Andrea Charman, chair of the Branksome Park and Canford Cliffs residents association, noted that she was blocked from her driveway twice last year by illegally parked cars. She expressed skepticism about the deterrent effect, predicting that drivers will still park wherever they can if beach access is a priority and parking is scarce.
Some residents also pointed to the council's sale of car parks to developers as a contributing factor to the parking issues, suggesting that improved park and ride services could alleviate the problem. The town has also faced broader issues with anti-social behavior, including street fights and public intoxication, which some business owners believe is discouraging tourism.
Dorset Police have implemented a "Good Safe Summer" initiative, deploying enhanced visible patrols in key tourist areas such as the seafront, town center, and Lower Gardens. These patrols are conducted in conjunction with the council's Town Team. The police report a decrease in anti-social behavior and crime in the town center over the past year, attributing some of this success to the addition of 11 new officers to the neighborhood policing team and increased officer visibility.