Free car parks in Verwood operated by Dorset Council will be chargeable from the end of March, pending installation of machines.

The move comes as Dorset Council develops a one-size-fits-all approach across the entire county, ignoring requests from Verwood Town Council and local residents to keep our town free of charges.

Residents and visitors will be charged in the Council’s new Level 1 payment system at The Hub, Jenner Close (Verwood Surgery) and Potters Wheel (Town Centre). Users of The Hub will be able to use The Hub car park for free by obtaining a permit from reception.

Costs are:

50p – 30 minutes
70p – 60 minutes
£1 – two hours
£1.50 – three hours
£2.50 – four hours
£4 – 10 hours

Charges will not apply between 6pm and 8am on weekdays.

Short Stay Permits can be bought for £78 covering 12 months of parking for no more than two hours each day, with two vehicles registered per permit (only one can be used at a time though).

Alternatively, Flexi Stay Permits are available for £25 a month or £260 a year for unlimited use for one vehicle.

Street parking in the town centre remains free – in places such as outside the Post Office (Manor Road), Tesco Express (Ringwood Road) and along Vicarage Road. Morrisons, Coop, Tesco and Lidl car parks are all free to use within their own Terms and Conditions.

Potterne Park remains unaffected.

Verwood Town Council opposed the introduction of charges, saying Verwood is not comparable to other towns where charging is normal.

In a report, the Council concludes: “Overall the Town Council feel that parking charges should not be made in Verwood, as it will be detrimental to the town centre and the elder residents with mobility issues but if charges are introduced then the first two hours should be free.”