New increased car parking charges for Dorset Council-owned car parks will come in at the end of this month - with some reaching up to £10 for the day.

Dorset Council launched a parking transformation project in 2020 to standardise car park prices across the council area, which also included a review of on-street car parking charges and car parking permits.

Councillor Ray Bryan, portfolio holder for highways, travel and environment, said: "It became apparent at an early stage of our car parks review that charges had not been reviewed for several years and changes needed to be made for a more consistent approach.

"As a council in a challenging financial position, we are trying to achieve a delicate balance of maximising income from our car parks while ensuring residents and visitors will still choose to support our high streets, beaches and attractions."

The new charges were approved by cabinet on November 8, 2021, and will come into effect on March 31.

In level one car parks - Beaminster, Charmouth, Ferndown, Gillingham, Sturminster Newton, Verwood and West Bexington - the charges are:

Low season (November 1 to March 31) - 50p for 30 minutes, 70p for one hour, £1 for two hours, £1.50 for three hours, £2.50 for four hours and £4 for 10 hours.

High season (April 1 to October 31) for Charmouth and West Bexington only - £1 for 30 minutes, £2 for one hour, £3 for two hours, £4 for three hours, £5 for four hours and £10 for 10 hours.

In level two car parks - Blandford, Bridport, Dorchester, Shaftsbury, Sherborne, Wareham, Weymouth (shops) and Wimborne - the charges are:

All year - 50p for 30 minutes, £1 for one hour, £1.50 for two hours, £2.20 for three hours, £3.50 for four hours and £6 for 10.

In level three car parks - Corfe Castle, Lyme Regis, Portland, West Bay and Weymouth (beach) - the charges are:

Low season - 50p for 30 minutes, £1 for one hour, £1.50 for two hours, £2.20 for three hours, £3.50 for four hours and £6 for 10 hours.

High season - £1 for 30 minutes, £2 for one hour, £3 for two hours, £4 for three hours, £5 for four hours and £10 for 10 hours.

Car parks in level three locations will be the first to have signage, machines and mobile payment information updated, followed by level two location car parks and finally car parks in level one.

Car parking charges and fines fund the operation of the council's parking services department. Any surplus the service makes goes into the highways service, helping fund drainage works, reactive pothole repairs, car park safety and general maintenance.

Two new permits are also being introduced to replace the 76 existing old district and borough permits.

The short stay car park permit costs £78 for 12 months and includes parking for two hours every day in the majority of Dorset Council short stay car parks and two vehicles can be registered per permit, but can only be used on one vehicle at a time.

The flexi stay car park permit includes unlimited parking in the majority of Dorset Council long stay car parks and free parking for two hours every day in the majority of Dorset Council short stay car parks.

This permit can be purchased monthly for £25 or for 12 months for £260 and can have one vehicle registered per permit.

The permits will be available from the end of March.

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