Bridport businesses react to 'ludicrous' car park proposal

Dorset Council has this week proposed a new pricing structure for car parks which would increase all day parking charges in Bridport town centre to £6 a day and raise charges at West Bay and Lyme Regis to £10 a day during the summer season.

The proposed three tier pricing structure will see car parks at West Bay and Lyme Regis, both in the level two pricing range, increase to £10 a day during the peak season from April 1 to October 31.

Parking charges at West Bay and Lyme Regis could be increased to £10 a day Picture: Bradley White

Bridport town centre car parks would come under the level two pricing range, proposed to start at 50p for 30 minutes and will rise to £6 for all day. Town centre car parks which offer all day parking, such as East Street Car Park and West Street Car Park, currently cost £2.80 for all day.

Gill Crump, owner of clothing shop Instant Redress on East Street said: "It's a great idea if they want to kill the town. It's an absolutely ludicrous suggestion.

"People would illegally park in stupid places and people would find their streets full of cars of driver not willing to pay the increased parking charges.

"So it would be very frustrating for both businesses and residents if they were to make these changes.

"I don’t think it would be a very constructive move at all."

John West, lead trustee at West Bay Discovery Centre, said: “We're not happy with the idea at all. Following the big increase last year it’s a bit of a hammer blow to West Bay.

“The obvious figure being picked out is the £10 for all day but the hourly charge of £1.50 an hour is also very steep.

“What the people proposing the charges tend to overlook is many of the people using the car parks are staff at restaurants, cafes and shops at West Bay who are being charged more than an hours wages to park.

“From our perspective we have volunteers who have to pay car parking charges and it would penalise them."

He added: “I don’t think it’s fair that West Bay is being treated like some of the other big tourist spots in Dorset.”

Ross Moore, co-owner of the Station Kitchen, was more sympathetic to the council.

He said: "I think the price hikes on the visitor destination car parks seem a little extreme.

“However, I imagine the financial situation of Dorset Council is possibly at breaking point, after a turbulent one year and four months since the pandemic began.

“The funds will be well needed I'm sure.”

Level one pricing is proposed for areas across Dorset including Beaminster, Charmouth and West Bexington. It would start at 50p for 30 minutes and rise to £4 for all day, during the off-peak season.

Prices would remain the same in the peak season, except for Charmouth and West Bexington where prices would increase, starting at £1 for 30 minutes and rising to £10 a day.

There is currently no charging for on-street parking in level one areas, which would be raised to up to £1 for 90 minutes if the council's proposal is approved.

Robert Muhl, president of the Bridport Business Chamber, said: “As far as businesses are concerned, these are avoidable extra charges which won’t help after an incredibly difficult time, by adding costs for people shopping in Bridport or for the tourism industry at West Bay.

“Dorset Council needs to get a grip on the reality and the potential long-term effects of this current restricted trading situation that we find ourselves in. This is surely the wrong signal to us all.”

Dorset Council has launched a permit survey to gather comments from residents, stakeholder groups, parish and town councillors.

To complete the survey, visit the Dorset Council website.