CAR parking restrictions may be introduced on an access road to Swanage lifeboat, coastguard station and the coast watch team.

Swanage Town Council is exploring the possibility of extending its existing car parking orders in Broad Road car park to cover Peveril Point Road, which is also council-owned.

The move has angered residents at Peveril Point who had been trying to negotiate a form of residential parking permit scheme.

Residents had rejected the council's proposals to introduce parking permits costing £500 per space per year and a subsequent proposal to issue 45 permits costing £125 each.

Peveril Point resident Andy Burnet said: "This town council is completely dependent on income from car parking and it is making it very difficult for people to park."

He also said: "Please can we resolve the parking and traffic issues in the whole of the town and have a strategy to go forward that copes with visitors that are fundamental to the economy and welfare of this town."

The council's car parking fees at Broad Road car park are £6 per day during the summer months and £4 during winter.

Swanage town council clerk Alan Leeson said: "We need to formally start the process to bring about changes that are an issue so we can instigate some form of control and regulation of the indiscriminate parking in that section of road.

"We need to formally put into process the regime that allows us to determine whether or not we can make the order. We've been talking around the subject for two-and-a- half years.

"As part of the process of putting forward proposals we have to consult with the chief constable and the highways authority - they will sanction whether or not the proposal goes forward. If there is objection there will be a public inquiry."

First published: August 31