CONTROVERSIAL pay and display parking charges will come into force at parks across Poole next week.

Car parking charges are being rolled out at five parks in the borough, starting in Hamworthy Park on Tuesday.

Pay and display charges in Whitecliff Park car park, Ham Common car park, Lake Pier car park, and Newfoundland Drive skateboard car park will follow shortly afterwards.

The decision to introduce charges at the car parks was made at a cabinet meeting in December 2016.

When the plans were first proposed, residents objected in their thousands and signed a public petition.

The charges will apply in all five parks between March 1 and October 31 each year.

Ken Bearcroft, president of Parkstone Bay Residents’ Association, said he was concerned people would now park in nearby residential roads to avoid the new charges at parks.

“My main concern is for Whitecliff Park as cars will now park in the surrounding roads. Everyone is going to be pushed out of the main car park.

“Take, for example, the dog walkers who use the park. They’ve now got half an hour of free parking so will have to go round the park quite quickly if they want to avoid paying.

“We forced the council to make the first half hour free at least, but these charges are not the best for encouraging people to get out and about and be healthy,” he added.

The council is urging people to read the car park signage carefully to avoid receiving a ticket. The first half hour will be free at all car parks.

At Hamworthy Park car park, charges will apply from 9.30am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, and 8am to 6pm Saturday and Sunday.

Thirty minutes to two hours will cost £1, and up to five-and-a-half hours will cost £2.

At Whitecliff Park car park, charges will apply from 8am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, and 8am to 6pm Saturday and Sunday.

The maximum stay during the week is four hours, costing £1 for up to two hours and £2 for up to four hours.

On the weekend, it will cost £2 for up to 10 hours.

At Ham Common and Lake Pier car parks, from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Sunday, it will cost £1 to park from 30 minutes to two hours, and £2 for up to 10 hours.

At Newfoundland Drive skateboard car park, the same charges apply but there is a maximum stay of four hours.

A park-based Green Parking Permit costing £40 per annum will be available early summer. A combined resident beach and park permit costing £140 per annum will also be available.

Jason Benjamin, parking services manager, Borough of Poole, said: “The charges offer an initial free period of stay and together with the tariff being lower than the council’s existing district car parking charges, it provides value for money for those visiting the parks. In addition, it is still free to park in these five parks between November and February.”