CONTROVERSIAL increases in car parking charges come into force this week - with all day parking in west Dorset areas set to quadruple from Thursday.

All-day charges at Dorset Council owned car parks in West Bay and Lyme Regis will rise by four times the current price - going from £2 to £8 beginning this Thursday, April 1.

The council says these changes are being implemented to bring West Bay and Lyme Regis in line with other seaside towns in Dorset. Both areas have not seen an increase in the fee since 2014.

The increase in charges was first announced in October and garnered a huge amount of criticism - with business owners, employees and councillors hitting out against the price-hike.

Dorset Council is introducing the changes to claw back some of the £3m which has been lost in parking charges during the pandemic and to make car park charging more comparable across the council area.

Drivers using car parks in those areas will be able to choose to park for one hour, two hours, three hours, four hours, six hours or all-day, with one hours parking starting at 50p and the all-day tariff changing to £6 in the low season and £8 during the peak season - from April to October.

For workers who use these car parks, long stay parking permits are available. An original recommendation by the council to extend evening charges from 6pm to 8pm was withdrawn following concerns voiced by many town and parish councils.

Sunday charging will also be introduced in towns where it does not already exist. This will happen in Bridport, Beaminster and Dorchester.