Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council is asking people to have their say on proposals to extend on-street paid-for parking in two seafront areas in Bournemouth and Poole:
- Area 1 – Canford Cliffs, Branksome Chine, and Westcliff
- Area 2 – Boscombe and Southbourne.
The public and key stakeholders are invited to give their views on the draft plans from 24 June to 1 August.
We have one of the busiest commercial stretches of seafront in the UK, and during high season faces a significant problem with drivers parking illegally or inconsiderately on seafront roads. This includes cars being parked on pavements, across driveways, on double yellow lines and double parked.
Our parking teams have limited powers to deal with this issue because of a lack of parking restrictions in some areas and budget constraints that limit their resources.
If paid-for parking was introduced, the money generated would help fund additional parking enforcement, including increasing the number of vehicles that could be towed away in the worst parking instances.
Additionally, the team would be able to enforce illegal parking across a wider area.
If the draft plans were to go ahead, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole residents who live on affected streets may be able to purchase an annual residents’ parking permit. They will be able to give their feedback on this proposal alongside the other draft plans when they fill in the survey.
Residents who do not live on the affected streets would not be eligible for a permit.
Councillor Richard Herrett, Portfolio Holder for Destination, Leisure and Commercial Operations, BCP Council, said:
“We welcome more than 10 million visitors annually to our seafront, and we want it to be safe and welcoming for everyone.
“We know at busy times we have a significant issue with illegal or inconsiderate parking on seafront roads. This significantly impacts road safety in these areas and can affect the quality of life for local residents and businesses.
“These proposals to extend seafront paid-for parking could generate revenue for additional parking enforcement and give us the ability to better enforce illegal parking across a wider area.
“These are draft proposals only – we promised to give local people more say over the decisions that affect communities, so we want to hear from you before any decision is made.”
It is anticipated that extending paid-for parking along the seafront will also help ease traffic congestion and reduce noise and air pollution caused by drivers looking for a free space.
There would be a proposed lower tariff during low season (1 Nov – 14 Mar), with a higher tariff for the high season (15 Mar – 31 Oct)
Local shopping areas such as Southbourne Grove and Canford Cliffs Village are excluded from the proposed paid-for parking areas.
The public engagement starts on 24 June 2025 and closes at 11.59pm on 1 August 2025. It can be completed online at haveyoursay.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/seafront-parking-2025.
Paper copies of the engagement documents can be requested at any library in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
