Short stay permits can now be used in most Dorset Council car parks for up to three hours a day, increasing from the previous two-hour limit.
The extra hour has been added to give residents more time to get things done and offer more value for money.
An annual permit offers savings for regular users, and the extended stay time removes some of the worry when attending appointments or completing errands.
At £90 a year for the short stay permit, one weekly three-hour stay averages at just over £1.73 per visit over 52 weeks. This means more time for regular visits to the surgery, to browse the shops, or check in on a family member.
For those parking three hours a day, five days a week, the permit reduces costs to just under 35p per three-hour stay. Whether it’s for the daily dog walk or taking the kids to their after-school activities, you could save £100s compared to paying for each visit.
Cllr Jon Andrews, Dorset Council’s Cabinet Member for Place Commissioned Services, said: “Increasing the permit from two to three hours can save you money and give more time to make the most of Dorset, or get those essential tasks done.
“When you’re going about your day-to-day errands, or spending leisure time with friends and family, that extra hour can give you peace of mind.
“As two cars can be registered, it’s a great way for your household to feel the benefit and save too.”
The short stay car park permit allows:
- a single parking session for up to three hours every day in most Dorset Council car parks, apart from these car parks.
- two vehicles to be registered per permit (but can only be used on one vehicle at a time)
Once the three-hour stay has been used in a day, the permit will not be valid again until the following day.
A paper parking permit is available for people without access to a smart phone or other online services, please telephone 01305 221000 for details.
