Review aims to make Dorset parking fairer, safer, greener and easier to use

Dorset Council is reviewing how it manages its car parks, with early proposals aimed at making parking fairer, safer, greener and easier to use for residents, businesses and visitors.

The review is the first time the council has used detailed data to understand how parking works across Dorset.

It covers more than 80 council-run car parks and associated on-street parking, helping the council build a clearer picture of where spaces are in demand and where they are underused.

These findings show a clear imbalance with some town centre and coastal car parks being well-used, particularly in busy periods, while other car parks often remain largely empty.

In the busier towns this can lead to congestion, drivers circling for spaces, frustration for residents and visitors, and poorer air quality.

The review also found that Dorset has fewer parking enforcement officers than similar councils, which may contribute to unsafe or inconsiderate parking in some areas.

Cllr Jon Andrews, Dorset Council’s Cabinet Member for Place Services, said: “Parking can be a real frustration – whether that’s not being able to find a space, feeling charges aren’t fair, or seeing unsafe parking on our streets.

“This review gives us the clearest picture we’ve ever had of how parking is actually used across Dorset. It shows that while some places are under real pressure, others nearby are not used as much as they could be, and that imbalance is something we want to fix.

“We also know people rely on their cars, especially in rural areas, so any future changes have to work for them as well. At the same time, we need to support our town centres, reduce congestion and improve safety.

“This is not about making decisions now. It’s about being open about the challenges, sharing the evidence, and working with communities to get the right solutions in place.

“We have to do all of this under strict national rules, which means the focus is on keeping traffic moving, improving safety and supporting local areas and not raising income.”

No decisions have been made at this stage. The council is sharing early ideas with councillors, starting with the Place and Resources Overview Committee on 9 July, before developing detailed proposals.

These early ideas include:

• A more flexible, town-by-town approach to parking charges, recognising that different places have different needs
• Encouraging better use of quieter car parks to reduce pressure on the busiest areas
• Greener pricing, with lower charges for low‑emission vehicles
• Increasing enforcement capacity to tackle unsafe and inconsiderate parking
•  Linking parking more closely with public transport improvements to support town centres and reduce congestion

The review also highlights the opportunity to make better use of some car parks outside of peak seasons, particularly in coastal areas, and to support town centre regeneration by improving access to local businesses.

This forms part of the council’s wider work to support thriving town centres, improve road safety and respond to the climate and nature emergency by reducing congestion and improving air quality.

Town and parish councils, and business groups will be invited to share their views as the council develops a future parking strategy.

People can view the report going to Place and Resources Overview committee here.