‘Lost’ income from an experimental holding of charges in three Dorset seaside parking areas could amount to £276,260 this year.

The measure was one of the first actions of the new Lib Dem administration at County Hall following the May elections, coming into effect on July 1st.

The result has been holding winter rates at the three car parks, effectively dropping the maximum payable from £15 per day to £9, with pro-rata changes to shorter stays.

A report for councillors says that at the Swannery car park, Weymouth, the likely effect will be a decrease in income by £144,133; at the main car park in West Bay £61,007 and at Charmouth Road, Lyme Regis, a decrease of £71,259.

(Image: Trevor Bevins)

The Lib Dem group say the budgetary impact will be mitigated if necessary by savings elsewhere, including £100,000 saved by the administration dropping a ‘lead councillor’ allowance, which had been introduced by the Conservatives when they were in power.

The ’winter rates’ in all three car parks will continue until the end of the experiment at the end of October, when they will be reviewed.

Put into perspective the £276,000 drop in income is only a tiny fraction of the Place Directorate’s £104million annual budget.

READ: Reduced car park fees 'making a difference'

The report to councillors on the potential drop in income when comparing with 2023 makes the point that price is not the only factor which determines car park income: “Car parking usage is also variable from one year to the next due to seasonal and weather patterns. An early spring and good summer can significantly increase income. Consequently the actual budget impact will be monitored throughout the year, said the report.

The officer report on the changes, which will be discussed by the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday, July 30, says the risks from the changes to the council are rated as “low” both in the short and longer term.

The only criticism of the decision, from the public, has been that the reduction has not been applied to all town centre car parks run by Dorset Council in all three towns. At West Bay traders described the move as welcome, but said it was “too little, too late.”

Several letters to the Dorset Echo have expressed disappointment that the change in fees could not be applied to those car parks even closer to the beach and shops.