UNPOPULAR on-street pay and display parking charges on roads close to Poole's beaches have come into force.

Borough of Poole (BOP) backed proposals to extend the pay and display scheme to a number of roads around the borough's beaches, last year, despite a wave of protest from residents which included petitions signed by thousands of people opposing the move.

The council has also come under fire in recent months for raising parking charges in Poole town centre car parks and at district car parks it operates.

Roads near the borough's beaches which motorists will now have to pay to park in, until peak season ends on October 31, include the Sandbanks peninsula, Brudenell Road, Brudenell Avenue, Chaddesley Glen, Haven Road and the section of Western Road alongside Beach Road car park, together with the western side of Western Road.

BOP transport cabinet member Drew Mellor said: "Last summer clearly demonstrated that road congestion caused by the demand for car parking spaces around beaches is a problem during the high season.

"These parking changes offer effective and efficient traffic management to meet existing and future demand for access to Poole’s beaches, but still offer more than 1,600 free of charge on-street parking spaces within a 5-15 minute walk to the seafront. People with existing resident and non-resident beach permits will also benefit from these changes as these will be valid for use in the new pay and display areas."

The new tariff will be charged between 8am-6pm at £1.50 per hour, then after four hours an all day rate of £10 will apply.

There will be no charge to park after 6pm at any time of the year and it remains free to park all day, between November and February.

BOP insists blue badge holders will not be affected by the new charges, as they can continue to park for free in on-street beach pay and display bays in Poole.