A TAX on motorists parking at work in Dorset’s busy town centres ‘cannot be ruled out’ in light of a government spending review.

Although no plans have been implemented as yet, the workplace parking levy could see employees having to pay to park at work.

Motorists across the UK have voiced concerns that councils could charge for parking in an attempt to bridge a shortfall in their budgets.

All plans for Dorset’s roads had been part of a five year Local Transport Plan (LTP) that co-ordinated parking charges and new bus and infrastructure plans.

There were two plans for Dorset, one for rural Dorset including Weymouth and Dorchester and one for the conurbation of Bournemouth and Poole.

The LTP is now up for review and a new one will have to be finalised by March 2011.

The new plan will be for a 15-year period and there will only be one plan for the whole of Dorset.

Dorset County Council Local Transport Plan manager, Steve Williams said that nothing could be ruled out in the future but added: “The current plan doesn’t make any reference to the workplace levy.

“We thought about it in the past and didn’t think it was appropriate – but that may change.

“We are producing a new transport plan, which comes out early next year in light of government spending cuts.

“Depending on how the spending cuts affect us we may need to review the plans.”

He added: “No decisions have been made as yet.

“If our funding were to be reduced due to government spending cuts it’s an option to look at.”