Free parking will no longer be available at Dorset Council’s car parks in Verwood from 1 April. This includes The Hub, Jenner Close and Potters Wheel.

As part of its parking transformation project, new charges are being rolled out across council-owned car parks from today Monday 28 March.

And motorists will no longer be able to use council car parks free of charge on Sundays.

The new charges come into force from today in Wimborne and in Ferndown’s Penny’s Lodge from tomorrow, 29 March and other parts in the county in the following days.

Charges in Verwood and Ferndown will be 50p for 30 minutes and 70p for an hour in low season and £1 for 30 minutes and £2 for an hour in high season which runs from 1 April to 30 October.

In Wimborne they will be 50p for 30 minutes and £1 for an hour throughout the year.

Charges were previously 60p for one hour and 70p for two hours.

Dorset Council says the changes are to bring consistency to charges across the county.

However new parking permits have been introduced.

The short stay car park permit provides parking for two hours every day in the majority of Dorset Council short stay car parks and costs £78 for 12 months.

The flexi stay car park permit provides 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. The flexi stay car park permit costs £25 a month or £260 for 12 months.