The End of Reckless Summer Parking? The Results Are In!
Following last August's trial of increased parking fines to discourage reckless parking along the seafront, the results are in!
See the communication below and this direct link to the report for all the details.
Good morning,
Earlier today we submitted a report to the Department for Transport outlining the results of our August 2025 trial of increased penalty charge notices – and I wanted to write to you directly to share that update.
The trial saw Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council test higher PCN levels along coastal roads from Sandbanks to Southbourne, following permission from the Secretary of State for Transport.
As you know, our trial was designed to test whether aligning PCN levels with London rates would act as a stronger deterrent against illegal and dangerous parking along our coastal routes.
The results from that trial are clear: tougher penalties delivered measurable improvements across safety, accessibility and network performance.
Illegal on-street parking fell significantly throughout the trial area – with high-level offences reducing by nearly 7% overall. This meant less congestion, less obstruction, and safer journeys for everyone across our road network.
Visitor numbers remained strong throughout August, and parking capacity across the area was more than sufficient to support legal parking choices. These outcomes reflect not only the deterrent effect of higher penalties but also the effectiveness of our joint communications and operational planning.
The public response to the trial was significant: with communities overwhelmingly supporting the measures. 59% of respondents supported the trial, rising to 76% among local businesses. This reinforces the shared ambition across our towns for safer, more accessible roads.
As a Council we are ready to work alongside Government officials and local MPs to secure a long-term solution that reduces illegal parking all year round – not just during the busiest times, across select roads.
We now have the infrastructure and resources to implement tougher penalties on a permanent basis and we are asking the DfT to allow us to do just that.
We have submitted the full report and evidence to the Department for Transport who will determine whether these powers can be made permanent or extended. The report is attached to this email in full and we will keep you updated as discussions progress.
Thank you for your continued collaboration and support.
Helen Taverner, CMILT, MCIHT, MBPA
Published: 20th February 2026