THERE are those misguided people who believe that the more expensive something is, the better it must be.

Perhaps it is this maxim that is driving Poole Council’s remarkable notion of doubling the price of a day in the Sandbanks car park to a staggering £15.

Maybe there really are tourists who will turn up next spring and summer and happily deposit 15 pounds coins in the pay machine, safe in the knowledge that they are going to have a beach experience that will live with them for the rest of the lives.

To be honest, for 15 quid, I’d expect a beach polo tournament, Eric Cantona playing football with a team of ex-internationals and Pamela Anderson racing across the shoreline in a tight-fitting red one-piece just waiting to rush in and rescue me from the waves.

For those Primark fans among us and the many who snort with derision at overpriced designer labels, we know better.

Sandbanks is a beautiful beach, but there’s almost seven more miles of beach along the coastline, half of it in neighbouring Bournemouth where for the most part beachgoers are in close touch with many facilities and a lively shopping centre.

If you live in Poole and are outraged, the beach car park season ticket is still a snip at £65. For any visitors heading here, there will be the chance to show your feelings... possibly with a reverse gear.