Parking in the District of North Dorset

General Information

North Dorset District Council is responsible for the management of off-street vehicle parking in the district. At present the council has 22 Car Parks within the district that form part of the North Dorset (Off-Street) Parking Places Order 2008. (PPO).

To date there have been two Variations to the Order, Variation One that:

a)     introduced a charge for half hour parking at the Eagle House Gardens Car Park, Blandford Forum

b)     provided the availability of Parking Permits for purchase at Bell Street and Angel Lane Car Parks, Shaftesbury

c)     increased the Parking Permit fee to £170 per annum.

and Variation Two that allowed 2 Coach bays to be included within Bell Street Car Park Shaftesbury.for a trial period.

The location, classes of vehicles, charges, charging days and hours and maximum periods of parking are outlined in the schedule of the PPO.

Reviewing the Service

The car park management is reviewed on a regular basis and a report presented to the Council's Cabinet.  A report in December 2009 offered recommendations to increase some charges in the forthcoming financial year.  These increases are to assist with the costs of running the car parks and to allow flexibility for users.

Following agreement of the recommendations Notice is hereby given that North Dorset proposes to make a new Order as specified.  The Order and Schedule are available to view below.

North Dorset (Off-Street) Parking Places Order 2010

Notice is hereby given that the North Dorset District Council propose to make an Order
under Section 35(1) and (3) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (“the Act of 1984”)
Part IV of Schedule 9 to the Act of 1984, Schedule 3 and Section 43 of the Road Traffic
Act 1991, and of all other enabling powers, the effect of which will be:

1.   To revoke the provisions of the North Dorset (Off-Street) Parking Place Order 2008 (as amended).

2.   To introduce the changes indicated in the Schedule hereto.

Full details of the proposals may be inspected during normal office hours at the Council
Offices, Nordon, Salisbury Road, Blandford Forum, Dorset, or by visiting the Council’s Website
at www.north-dorset.gov.uk

Any objection or comment to these proposals should be made in writing, specifying the grounds
on which it is made, by Friday 26 February 2010 to Mrs B Deakin, Car Park Services Officer, North
Dorset District Council, Nordon, Salisbury Road, Blandford Forum Dorset. DT11 7LL.

Dated this Fifteenth day of January 2010

PROPER OFFICER FOR AND

ON BEHALF OF THE NORTH

DORSET DISTRICT COUNCIL

Proposed North Dorset (Off-Street) Parking Places Order 2010 and Proposed Schedule to the (Off-Street)Parking Places Order 2010

Charging

All chargeable car parks are designated pay and display; this means once a vehicle is parked within a parking bay a ticket must be purchased from the meter and displayed on the front windscreen of the vehicle.

If a motor cycle does not park in the designated motorcycle bay then a ticket must be purchased. It is advisable to tear the ticket in half vertically and place one half on the vehicle and retain the other.

Parking Permits

It is possible to purchase Parking Permits at the following Car Parks:  Angel Lane and Bell Street, Shaftesbury; Eagle House Gardens, Langton Road (Long Stay) and Marsh and Ham, Blandford Forum; Chantry Fields and Gas Lane, Gillingham and Station Road, Sturminster Newton.  An Application Form can be downloaded from this site (please click car park of your choice form) but as there are restrictions on the number of allocated permits per car park it may be beneficial to contact the Council for availability of permits prior to applying.

Permits are purchased per annum and cost £170.00 this will allow a vehicle to be parked in the designated car park whenever necessary.  They are allocated per car park and can include the registration numbers of a maximum of two vehicles on each.

Coins

All car park meters accept 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p and £1 coins. It is advisable to use the correct money as meters do not give change.

If a meter is out of order, please use an alternative meter when one is available.

If a Meter is not Working

The council would appreciate that a non-working meter be reported as soon as possible.  The number to contact is 01258 454111. When doing so please state your name, telephone number, time you found the meter not working and location of meter, you may be asked at which position in the car park as some car parks have more than one meter.

Parking Fines  -  Where They Are Issued and How Much They Cost

Parking fines (known as ‘Penalty Charge Notices’) are issued to people who have broken Parking regulations:

• in Council Car Parks
• on street parking spaces or
• parking on yellow lines.

The Penalty Charge Notice amount is approved by Government, if you pay the fine promptly within 14 days, there is a reduction. Thereafter the full amount is payable.

Appealing a Fine

If you feel you have been issued with a fine incorrectly, you have the right to appeal. This can only be done by writing following the steps below.

Step 1 - Making your first appeal

Write to the address on the back of the fine, giving:

• Your name and address
• The number of the Penalty Charge Notice
• Full details of your appeal

Step 2 - If your appeal is turned down

If your challenge is turned down you will be sent details on how to take your appeal to an independent appeal hearing. This will be conducted by an impartial legal representative who will reassess your case, either at a personal hearing or by post.

The result of this decision will be binding on all parties.

If Your Fine Remains Unpaid

Step 1

If the charge remains unpaid, a ‘Notice to Owner’ will be sent to the registered keeper of the vehicle. You must then either:

• Pay the full charge within 28 days.
• Or if you haven't already done so make an appeal.

Step 2

If you do nothing, a ‘Charge Certificate’ will then be sent and the charge will increase by 50%. If you receive a ‘Charge Certificate’, you must pay the charge within 14 days. There is no right of appeal at this stage.

Step 3

If you do not pay the charge, it will be registered as a debt in the County Court, a court fee will then be added and an ‘Order of Recovery’ will be sent to you.

Step 4

If you receive an ‘Order of Recovery’ you must either pay the charge within 21 days or complete a ‘Statutory Declaration’, which is enclosed with this document.  If you do nothing, the Court will grant authority for a Warrant to be issued and a bailiff will be asked to recover the debt from you. The bailiff will charge for this.

Any enquiries relating to Penalty Charge Notices should be made in writing to Dorset Parking Services, P.O. Box 5101, Dorset. DT11 9WG.  Telephone enquiries can be made (telephone 01258 450447) however, only appeals in writing will be accepted.

Disabled Parking

Disabled drivers may park free of charge for up to 3 (three) hours in designated parking bays in Pay and Display car parks in North Dorset.  A disabled badge and clock must be displayed prominently in the vehicle.  When parking in any other bay a ticket should be purchased from the meter.  Most Pay and Display Car Parks have wide bays dedicated to disabled drivers. However, you may incur a Penalty Charge if you park outside marked bays, or fail to display your badge and clock.

Dogs in Vehicles

You are advised not to leave dogs in vehicles unaccompanied during hot weather. It is the policy of this Council to report such incidents to both the Police and the RSPCA.

Obstructions of highways and footpaths

Dorset Police are responsible for enforcing obstructions of the highway and footpaths where no other parking restrictions are in force e.g. yellow lines.

Civil Enforcement Officers do not have the powers to deal with these offences unless there are waiting restrictions (yellow lines) on the highway adjacent to the pavement.  In these instances, a Penalty Charge Notice can be issued as the vehicle would be parking in contravention of a traffic order. Waiting restrictions cover the highway from the centre of the highway to the building line.

Illegally parked vehicles cost the Council thousands of pounds a year in damaged paving, damaged grass verges and cause serious problems for blind, disabled and older pedestrians.

Pavement parking

Pavements are constructed and provided for pedestrian use.

Vehicles parked on pavements are:

• A hazard to pedestrians causing an obstruction which may result in them having to step off the pavement onto the highway, putting themselves in danger.
• A hazard by restricting the width of the pavement making it difficult for someone with a pushchair or wheelchair to pass safely.
• A hazard due to the damage caused by driving on and off the pavement – broken paving slabs etc.

Car Park Enquiries

Should you have any enquiries, comments or suggestions regarding car parks please contact North Dorset District Council during office hours. 

North Dorset District Council
Nordon, Salisbury Road
Blandford Forum
DT11 7LL

Telephone: 01258 454111
Fax: 01258 470198

Useful Links

Car park information can be found by visiting www.carparks4u.com/ and entering the town you wish to visit.  Whilst we have provided this link we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this site.  Please see above for any general enquiries.

www.dorsetforyou.com/index.jsp