AN overall review of parking across rural Dorset is expected to be completed in the New Year.

It could bring big changes as it seeks to harmonise fees and charging structures.

The comprehensive review comes after a drop in car park income of between £2m and £3m this year because of the Covid pandemic.

The Dorset Council area currently has different charging structures in each of the former district and borough council areas with some places, such as Verwood, still offering free parking.

As the first phase of the review Sunday charging, where it is not already in place, and charging from 8am to 8pm throughout the week is expected to be introduced in a few weeks time. This decision is subject to Cabinet agreeing the changes on December 8.

Other changes which may be considered in the later review include a three-tier charging structure – for the county’s seaside town, its market towns and more rural locations.

Councillors sitting on a scrutiny committee heard this week heard that car parking policy was more complex than many would anticipate, with every decision having a knock-on effect. There was criticism that the current changes had not been thought through.

But he man responsible for the police told councillors some perspective was needed.

Portfolio holder for parking, Cllr Ray Bryan, said his problem remained the need to collect enough money in fees to pay for maintenance of the car parks themselves, some highway works and to help support bus fares, especially this year, faced with a shortfall because of the pandemic. He said that many parking fees had not changed for years.

He said: “When I go out for a meal I’m looking to spend, probably £50 to £60, £2 on car parking is less than one of the drinks I would buy at the bar, so can we please make sure we keep things in focus as far as reality is concerned, that’s important.”

Cllr Andy Canning said that in Dorchester if the current 6pm cut off for parking fees was pushed to 8pm it was likely to have two effects – people finding residential streets to park in, to the annoyance of those living there; or people deciding to come out later, affecting the income of town centre businesses.

Cllr Shane Bartlett, from Wimborne, spoke about the dangers of having one charging band and times across the district.

He said that while a higher fee might be more acceptable at a coastal town, the same fee was likely to be unacceptable in somewhere like Wimborne, to the detriment of the number of visitors.

Cllr Canning said that Sunday charges would also hit the Dorchester car boot where visitors currently park for free. He said the car boot each year raised ten of thousands of pounds for local charities.

He said that given the low price people typically paid for goods, or that they often just came to browse and bought nothing, any fee would reduce the number of visitor and the annual donations to charities.

Portfolio holder for parking, Cllr Ray Bryan, said his problem remained the need to collect enough money in fees to pay for maintenance of the car parks themselves, some highway works and to help support bus fares, especially this year, faced with a shortfall because of the pandemic. He said that many parking fees had not changed for years.