Bournemouth, Christchurch, Motoring & Transport, Poole | Posted on May 22nd, 2026 | return to news

BCP Council calls for government parking fine approval

The government hasn’t yet replied to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council’s plea for tougher enforcement powers.

Illegal, dangerous and irresponsible parking can be a huge problem in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole during the summer season. Consequently, Cllr Millie Earl, leader of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council, has written once again to the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander MP, to lobby for tougher enforcement powers.

The call for decisive action follows the successful implementation of last year’s landmark summer trial of higher fines, which showed stronger enforcement powers make roads safer, reduce congestion and improve accessibility.

Findings from that trial were submitted to the Department for Transport in February, at which time BCP Council asked to either implement them on a permanent basis or be granted permission for an extended trial covering the whole of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole this summer.

Since then, the report has been raised several times in Parliament by a number of MPs, but the council is yet to receive any official response to its requests.

And now, with warmer weather already bringing plenty of visitors to BCP’s coastline, the council is seeking urgent clarity about the future implementation of increased PCNs.

Cllr Richard Herrett, BCP Council’s portfolio holder for commercial operations, destination and leisure, said: “Illegal parking blights our communities and it only gets worse during the summer. But we know that greater powers work: the higher-rate fines we trialled last year, after years of asking successive governments to let us, reduced illegal parking and improved public safety.

“Not only do they work – they enjoy significant support as well. Local MPs helped secure the trial, and our residents, businesses and BCP Council’s cross-party overview and scrutiny board support tougher penalties because they know that making these powers permanent would mean safer roads for everyone, every day.”

During last August’s trial, higher-rate PCNs were charged along 543 coastal roads from Sandbanks to Southbourne, bringing the fines in line with local authorities in London.

Illegal and irresponsible parking dropped significantly during the trial period, falling by nearly seven per cent instead of the independently modelled expected rise under normal conditions.

The most notable change in behaviour came in areas that matter most to residents.

The higher fines also didn’t put people off visiting BCP’s coast, with millions of trips made to towns and beaches and returning visitors more than doubling year on year. Most importantly, there was more than enough spare capacity at car parks just a short walk from the beach every day throughout the summer.

Tags: #bcpcouncil, #parkingticket