MOTORISTS have fed more than £170,000 into Bournemouth parking meters in the last three months, even though they had no chance of receiving a fine.

Bournemouth traffic wardens stopped handing out tickets to motorists in parts of the town on September 7 because of a problem with legal documentation regarding enforcement, which has still not been sorted out.

But council figures show that in September, October and the first half of November, the council collected £170,079 from on-street meters. The council said the parking meters themselves were legal, which is why it had decided not to temporarily take them out of operation.

But Labour opposition leader Cllr Ben Grower has called on the council to “get their act in order”.

Drivers who spoke to the Daily Echo branded the situation a “rip-off” and said the council should offer a period of free parking to compensate.

Mike Holmes, service director for planning and transport, said: “We are confident the use of all parking meters to regulate parking across Bournemouth is lawful.

“The Independent Adjudicator’s decision related to the legal documentation behind parking enforcement at a particular area where a pay and display meter is located.

“This is not uncommon and has happened to other councils across the country. As soon as we became aware of the issue in Bournemouth we suspended enforcement at all on-street pay and display locations, while we sought legal advice in relation to this specific issue.

“We are now working to rectify what is a technical issue.

“While we could continue to enforce, we have taken the decision to not issue Penalty Charge Notices in respect of on-street pay and display until this process is complete.

“This matter is being rectified as a matter of urgency and enforcement action could be reinstated at any time without notice.”

Cllr Grower said: “I still think they should be paying for |their parking but I’m surprised that the council still hasn’t got its act in order to get it all sorted out.”

Nigel Hedges, president of Bournemouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said there was no real case for motorists being refunded.

He added: “From a business point of view we would say you don’t give the money back unless you had to and parking in all towns is a merchantable facility.”