Some fines will more than double from £70 to £160 as the council hopes to clamp down on illegal parking in the busy summer months.

21:18, Mon, Jun 15, 2026 Updated: 21:18, Mon, Jun 15, 2026

Close Up Of Female Motorist Looking At Parking Ticket

Some fines are set to more than double (Image: Getty)

A warning has been issued to drivers heading to a popular UK seaside destination this summer. The local council has been permitted to increase fines to £160 across 543 roads in a bid to crackdown on illegal parking.

Ministers have given Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council permission to increase parking penalties along its seafront. The increased penalties will see fines more than doubled from £70 to £160, reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days, on roads stretching from Sandbanks, in Poole, to Southbourne in Bournemouth. The area is incredibly popular in the summer months, with millions of tourists flocking to the coastal towns to enjoy their golden beaches, vibrant seasides, and bustling harbours every year.

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As reported by GB News, the trial, which will operate this summer, has been approved by the Department for Transport (DfT). However, there must be enough legal parking available and visitors must be informed about the rules before enforcement begins.

The council ran a similar pilot scheme last summer which highlighted problems caused by badly parked vehicles throughout the area. After the recent decision to permit an increase in fines, a council spokesperson said: "We are pleased that ministers have listened to our repeated calls, especially given the recent increase in illegal parking."

Incidents last year included cars blocking pavements, obstructing access routes and preventing emergency vehicles from passing. However, Heidi Alexander, Transport Secretary, criticised the council's handling of the trial last year and warned that improvements would be expected this year.

Tom Hayes, Bournemouth East MP (Labour), said residents across the area were frustrated by tourists abandoning their vehicles in inappropriate places such as along the seafront or on roundabouts. He said people wanted "peace of mind in their communities".

Bournemouth East Overcliff Drive road along seafront

The Bournemouth area attracts millions of tourists every year (Image: Getty)

Under the trial this summer, offences such as overstaying in a parking bay or parking outside marked lines will carry a £110 fine, reduced to £55 if paid within two weeks. Meanwhile, recovering a vehicle from the pound will cost £280, compared with the usual £105 fee.

Storage charges will also rise sharply from £12 to £55 per day. Motorists whose cars are wheel-clamped will have to pay a £100 release fee.

According to the DfT, the council issued 7% fewer parking tickets during the trial month last year than in August 2024. This was despite similar weather conditions and visitor numbers.

A DfT spokesperson said: "We are firmly on the side of drivers and we fully expect councils only to use penalty charge notices as a deterrent for law-breaking, not as a way to raise funds.

"While we have agreed to the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council's trial in principle, this is still subject to further checks to ensure this is run fairly."