SHOP owners, café managers and councillors have hit out against an 'outrageous' hike in car parking charges with prices at some sites increasing four fold.
Reviewing its controversial car park proposals announced in October, Dorset Council has decided to drop the move to introduce evening car park charges until 8pm – although Sunday charges will still be introduced for the first time.
And in a shock move, the council has decided to further increase all-day charges in council owned car parks in West Bay and Lyme Regis.
Prices at these sites will now quadruple, rather than double as originally suggested – going up from £2 to £8. It will come into effect in February. The council says it is to bring West Bay and Lyme Regis in line with other seaside towns in Dorset – both areas have not had an increase in the fee since 2014.