PROPOSED parking charges have been labelled “dangerously biased and unfair” by a Ferndown councillor.

The county and town councillor also raises concerns the plans favour the Verwood area - whose councillors include the leader of East Dorset District Council, Spencer Flower.

A report going before the council's scrutiny and policy committee this evening proposes increasing fees for parking in Wimborne and Ferndown - but none in Verwood.

Ferndown town councillor Steve Lugg has written an open letter to the committee ahead of the meeting.

In the letter, Cllr Lugg says expecting Ferndown and Wimborne residents to pay for the costs of operation and subsidise the car parking operations in Verwood is double taxation of some residents and manifestly unfair.

The changes to parking charges in the other areas would be the first increase in the area for 10 years.

"In summary, the report to scrutiny is dangerously biased and unfair. I ask Scrutiny to return it to whence it came for further consideration," Cllr Lugg says.

“In Ferndown, it will also disproportionately affect the elderly and disabled using the social facilities of the Barrington Centre.

“They require a short walk and flat surface, rather than the hills required to be negotiated from the community car park.

“It is therefore socially and morally wrong also, indeed shameful in its execution, bearing down disproportionately on the elderly and disabled.”

Ian Milner, Christchurch and East Dorset Councils' strategic director, said: “The report going to Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee contains proposals for changing some parking charges in East Dorset and is the first formal stage in receiving the views of members.

“Following this, the report will go to Cabinet who will then consider what final proposals will go out to public consultation."

The consultation process is due to start in mid-October.