CIVIC chiefs are set to discuss proposals that could see district car park fees in Poole almost TREBLE and annual season tickets more than DOUBLE to £500.

The plans have been slammed by residents groups and local trade associations, who say the move will hit businesses and shoppers hard in the pocket.

Currently, one hour's parking at Borough of Poole (BOP) district car parks in areas such as Ashley Road, Ashley Cross, Broadstone, Canford Cliffs and Penn Hill, cost 40p an hour, rising to £1.30 for a three hour stay.

However, as part of a number of proposed parking charge increases, set to be introduced from March if agreed later this month, fees will rise to £1 for an hour, £1.50 for two hours, then £3.50 for three.

Annual season ticket holders for Poole's district car parks will also see their £225 season tickets rise to an eye-watering £500.

BOP's cabinet will convene today to consider backing the changes, which the council says will help alleviate "budgetary pressures" on its transportation services.

Indeed, according to official documents the increased fees could claw back £873,821 for the cash-strapped borough.

Items under consideration include:

Increase car park tariffs in district car parks from 40p to £1 per hour, taking a £3.40 eight-hour stay up to £5.

Increasing the rate for town centre shopping based car parks to £1 per hour, from the current 80p.

Removal of the £1.50 flat rate for Sunday parking, replacing it with normal Monday to Saturday rates.

Re-introduction of a £2 evening/overnight flat charge after 10pm in town centre and beach areas.

Increasing peak charges at beach car parks and current on-street parking, between March and October.

Introduce £2 overnight charges to beach car parks.

Ashley Road Traders Association chairman Michael Ockenden told the Daily Echo: "This will be a disaster, we are opposed to these increases.

"What we've asked them (BOP) to do is to consider is just making it one pound for two hours.

"I think most people don't generally mind paying a pound for parking, but on the other charges - we've told the council 'you're having a laugh'.

"People don't park overnight in these car parks. Also, there are a lot of shopkeepers who don't have personal parking and they use the car parks all year round. So the people getting hit by the permit increases the most are the people who work here. This is not a good thing.

"It feels that because the council cannot raise money anywhere else, they're determined to raise it anyway they can."

Mr Ockenden says the association has worked hard to sell Ashley Road to the public. "We want people to come to Ashley Road for longer than just an hour," he added. "It is a two-mile strip and is probably the next most important high street in the whole area.

"If the council introduces these charges it will just hurt us again."

BOP says there is no plan to change town centre on-street, or other town centre car park, tariffs.

Meanwhile, Beach Road car park will be immune from any increased fees - in a bid to encourage greater usage.

Canford Cliffs Land Society chairman George Perrins said: "I feel that the proposed increase in beach car park charges will simple deter people from using them.

"This will inevitably lead to further pressure on street parking to the detriment of the residents.

"Public opinion is against the present policy but they (BOP) simply ignore it."

In December the Echo reported how Poole residents were set to challenge the council's latest parking charge ruling in the courts.

Members of the Sandbanks Parking Group, a loose connection of residents' associations, businesses and individuals, met and resolved to seek legal advice for changing the borough's decision.This separate decision, made earlier in December, concerned the introduction of parking fees in a number of the borough's parks and seaside roads.

Meanwhile, on the latest district car park fee hike proposals, the Branksome Park, Canford Cliffs & District Residents Association (BPCCDRA) criticised the council for failing to consult with traders associations.

A BPCCDRA statement concluded: "This will do nothing to improve a local concern about footfall in Canford Cliffs Village."

If agreed by cabinet the new charges could come into affect from March this year.

District Car Parks

Up to 1hr, 2hrs, 3hrs, 4hrs, 6hrs, 8hrs, 12hrs, 14hrs.

Existing tariff: 40p, 80p, £1.30, £1.80, £2.70, £3.40, £3.80, £3.80

Proposed tariff: £1, £1.50, £3.50, £3.50, £5, £5, £5, £5

Season Tickets (District Car Parks)

Existing annual is £225

Proposed annual is £500

Town Centre Shopping Car Parks

Up to 1hr, 2hrs, 3hrs, 4hrs, 6her, 7hrs, 8hrs, 9hrs, 10hr, Night Rate, Sunday.

Existing tariff: 80p, £1.50, £2.50, £3.50, £4.50, £5,40, £6.40, £7.20, £7.20, £8.50, £1.60, £1.50

Proposed tariff: £1, £2, £3, £4, £5, £6, £7, £8, £9, £10, £2, N/A

Beach Car Parks (March to October)

Up to 1hr, 2hrs, 3hrs, 4hrs, 6hrs, 8hrs, 12hrs, 14hrs, Overnight.

Existing tariff: £2, £3.50, £5, £6.50, £9.50, £12.50, £15.50, £15.50 N/A

Proposed tariff: £2, £4, £6, £8, £12, £15, £15, £15, £2

Current BOP district surface car parks:

Albert Road Car Park, (Ashley Road) Upper Parkstone.

Commercial Road Car Park, Ashley Cross.

Jubilee Road Car Park, (Ashley Road) Upper Parkstone.

Mansfield Road Car Park, (Ashley Road) Upper Parkstone.

Norrish Road Car Park, (Ashley Road) Upper Parkstone.

Penn Hill Car Park, Penn Hill Avenue.

Ravine Road, Canford Cliffs.

Station Approach Car Park, Broadstone.

Storey Lane Car Park, Broadstone.

‘Council has to balance budget’

BOROUGH of Poole transportation cabinet member Cllr Drew Mellor said: “We have worked hard to keep increases in parking charges relatively low and over the past five years these have only gone up by 3.8 per cent.

“This reflects our ongoing commitment to regenerating Poole town centre.

“The council has made a significant investment in recent years to improve car parking facilities for residents and visitors and is committed to making further improvements that will continue to make Poole a more attractive destination. In addition to the £2.3 million being invested into the Dolphin Centre multi storey car park the agreement reached with Legal and General unlocks an estimated £16 million of investment into the Dolphin Centre, Kingland Crescent, Falkland Square and will trigger additional improvements to the Dolphin Centre multi storey car park.

“This is part of a co-ordinated plan to put Poole town centre back on the map.

“However, the council faces unprecedented financial pressures over the next three years as the government withdraws its funding for local services.

“By 2019/20, the council will be completely reliant on money it raises locally to pay for local services.

“As part of its approach to setting a balanced budget and protecting frontline services, the council has to make difficult decisions and consider increases to fees and charges, including those for car parking.”

Another eight toilets to close

ANOTHER eight public toilets are facing closure in Poole, as the cash-strapped council looks to claw back an additional £100,000.

Borough of Poole's (BOP) cabinet is set to vote on the latest stage of its ongoing programme to close pubic conveniences at a meeting tonight. (Tuesday)

If agreed the eight closures will save £100,000 in addition to the £193,000 already recouped by other public toilet closures, the council says.

However, the move is not proving popular with residents and trading associations.

Ashley Road Traders Association chairman Michael Ockenden said: "The council closed the Jubilee Road toilets up here in 2014.

"They did it and said they'd put this community toilet scheme in place, but they only found three businesses that agreed to it. Before we knew it the toilet block had been demolished so we couldn't use it again. It was disastrous.

"They (BOP) just took no notice at all, it was like walking down a blind alley. They'd already made their minds up and that was the end of it.

"That hurt Ashley Road quite a lot."

The Branksome Park, Canford Cliffs & District Residents Association also criticised the move to close more public toilets, and questioned the timing of the decision. "Especially as it comes at a time with the council being asked to approve expenditure of £215,920 to spruce up the public access to Poole Civic Centre," added the association.

The public toilets under threat of closure are at Baiter Park; Branksome Recreation Ground; Alexandra Park; Charborough Road (Broadstone Recreation Ground); Constitution Hill; Parkstone Park; Poole Road; and The Haven.

If the closures are agreed BOP will retain 15 public toilets, in its main parks and along the beach front.

BOP environment cabinet member, Cllr John Rampton, explained how the council decided in 2014 to undertake a three-year programme to make savings of £293,000 from its budget for public toilets.

"There has been a phased closure of the town centre, park and recreation area and high street shopping area toilets which has saved £261,000."

The council has been working to offset the losses by starting a Community Toilet Scheme (CTS), which involves private businesses and organisations allowing the public use of their facilities.

There are 20 CTS in operation around the borough, but critics say members of the public are not always aware of this alternative.

Bournemouth's toilets also under threat

Last month the Echo reported how more than half of Bournemouth's public toilets were also under threat of permanent closure.

Bournemouth council is consulting on its latest cost-cutting move, with a final decision due in February.

At least 13 out of the 18 public conveniences in Bournemouth - excluding seafront toilets - could close, with others transferred to different owners.

BOP's cabinet is set to meet at the Civic Centre, 7pm, on January 10.