Higher seafront parking fines could extend to schools

A month long trial of higher fines for illegal parking near a seafront has concluded.

During August 2026, fines on 543 coastal roads from Sandbanks to Southbourne were increased to £160 by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council.

The council said it will discuss the findings of the trial with the Department for Transport (DfT) before revealing the figures in due course.

Cllr Richard Herret said, depending on that feedback, higher fines could be extended to roads around schools where "safety is almost more critical than around the beach".

The council said a similar trial of the "London level" fines approved by the government last year, showed a reduction in the number of parking fines handed out.

Herret, who is in charge of the seafront, said it is too early to tell if this year's trial has been successful: "There's a new DfT scheme to provide more analysis this year, but we know last year we saw a 15% swing in terms of reduction of illegal parking and we would hope to see the same again."

The council's summer income from parking charges was lower than expected, despite strong visitor numbers during the hot summer.

Fines increased to £160, reducing to £80 if settled within 14 days and other tariffs included a £100 wheel clamp charge and £280 to release a vehicle from a pound.

Herret said the scheme could be extended: "We would like to see this trial made permanent or done on a wider basis across the whole of BCP.

"One of the number one issues in my inbox is illegal parking around schools.

"Schools go back this week and I'm sure we will see illegal parking returned to those areas and actually that's where safety is almost more critical than around the beach."

Some hospitality business owners say the trial has put some people off going out and risking a fine.

Harriett Ellis owns Baffi, a pizzeria in Canford Cliffs near Sandbanks, which was included in the trial area of higher fines for illegal parking.

She said: "It's been really unhelpful basically, unhelpful to everyone and we are a thriving community and so anything that's unhelpful is not good for business.

"It's affordable dining, so that if you're adding on a very high parking fine, that makes a huge difference to our customers and they will go elsewhere."

BCP council says discussions with DfT will determine what happens next.

Helen Taverner, head of parking operations and enforcement, said: "This second trial has provided valuable further evidence on the impact of higher parking fines along some of our busiest coastal roads.

"We are now analysing the latest enforcement data and feedback, alongside the DfT, to understand how the trial has worked and what it tells us."

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