Bournemouth, Christchurch, Motoring & Transport, Poole | Posted on June 26th, 2025 | return to news
BCP Council seafront areas proposed for paid-for parking
The council is proposing to introduce paid-for parking in Canford Cliffs, Branksome Chine, Westcliff, Boscombe and Southbourne.
Motorists could soon have to pay to park in seafront areas in Bournemouth and Poole: Canford Cliffs, Branksome Chine, Westcliff, Boscombe and Southbourne.
But before that is agreed, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council is inviting people to have their say on the proposals with the deadline being 1 August.
The BCP area faces a significant problem with drivers parking illegally or inconsiderately on seafront roads. This includes cars being parked on pavements, across driveways, on double yellow lines and double parked.
BCP Council parking teams have limited powers to deal with this issue because of a lack of parking restrictions in some areas and budget constraints which limit their resources.
The council says that if paid-for parking was introduced, the money generated would help fund additional parking enforcement, including increasing the number of vehicles which could be towed away in the worst parking instances.
Additionally, the team would be able to enforce illegal parking across a wider area.
If the draft plans were to go ahead, BCP residents who live on affected streets may be able to purchase an annual Residents’ Parking Permit. They will be able to give their feedback on this proposal alongside the other draft plans when they fill in the survey.
Residents who do not live on the affected streets would not be eligible for a permit.
Cllr Richard Herrett, portfolio holder for Destination, Leisure and Commercial Operations, BCP Council, said: “We welcome more than 10 million visitors annually to our seafront, and we want it to be safe and welcoming for everyone.
“We know at busy times we have a significant issue with illegal or inconsiderate parking on seafront roads. This significantly impacts road safety in these areas and can affect the quality of life for local residents and businesses.
“These proposals to extend seafront paid-for parking could generate revenue for additional parking enforcement and give us the ability to better enforce illegal parking across a wider area.
“These are draft proposals only – we promised to give local people more say over the decisions that affect communities, so we want to hear from you before any decision is made.”
It is anticipated that extending paid-for parking along the seafront will also help ease traffic congestion and reduce noise and air pollution caused by drivers looking for a free space.
There would be a proposed lower tariff during low season (1 November – 14 March), with a higher tariff for the high season (15 March – 31 October).
Local shopping areas such as Southbourne Grove and Canford Cliffs Village are excluded from the proposed paid-for parking areas.
The public engagement can be completed online at haveyoursay.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/seafront-parking-2025. Paper copies of the engagement documents can be requested at any BCP library.
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Car parking in these roads is nothing new. I used to live in Brudenell Avenue in the 1960s and occasionally on a very hot day or bank holiday even then people used to park in and block our drive. Watch out that this is not a sledgehammer to crack a nut.