PLANS to increase parking charges and introduce overnight fees in some areas of East Dorset look set to be given the green light - even though a number of objections were made during a public consultation.

The changes, which propose increasing fees to park in Ferndown and Wimborne as well as implementing a 50p charge to park overnight in Wimborne, are back before East Dorset District Council's scrutiny and policy committee on Tuesday.

Members supported the plans in September and following a 26-day consultation period, a report to the committee recommends just one change to the measures - the restriction on Wimborne residents' permits will be lifted on blue badge holders with permits.

This is despite objections from local groups, particularly in Wimborne.

In response to the proposals, the report states that Wimborne Minster Town Council said it was disappointing that only Wimborne Minster and Ferndown car parks have charges, with a view that Wimborne residents are being treated unfairly.

Wimborne council is reportedly strongly opposed to evening and overnight charges, as well as restrictions on residents' permits.

Both Wimborne Chambers of Commerce and Wimborne Business Improvement District also voiced their objections to the proposals.

These views made up part of the 78 responses given to the consultation.

A number of consultation responses questioned why some areas of the district are not seeing increased charges.

In response to this, the report says: "The council has carried out a refresh of the usage of the public car parks in Corfe Mullen, West Moors and Verwood over a three week period in September and October 2017.

"Based on the data gathered, there is not a case for introducing charges in any of these car parks in order to generate additional ‘churn’ of spaces."

In total, twenty-eight responses objected to increasing tariffs in Wimborne and Ferndown prime car parks compared to just 11 responses in support of the increase.

Twenty-one objections were received to increasing fees in Wimborne's non-prime car parks, while again just 11 responses were in favour of this move.

A total of 30 objections were submitted to the introduction of a 50p overnight charge in Wimborne, with just three responses backing this proposal.

Objections also outweighed favourable responses on increasing the cost of Wimborne residents' permits, limiting permits to two per household and increasing the cost of long stay permits in Ferndown and Wimborne.