Parking income is below forecast in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole as the council points to changing travel habits and pressure on household budgets, while wider budget pressures continue. Parking income in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is coming in below council expectations this year. BCP Council says more residents walking and cycling, alongside pressure on household budgets, is affecting income from car parks and seafront services, while the authority is forecasting an overspend of 27 million pounds linked partly to care demand and reduced government funding. The budget repor
Parking income in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is coming in below council expectations this year.
BCP Council says more residents walking and cycling, alongside pressure on household budgets, is affecting income from car parks and seafront services, while the authority is forecasting an overspend of 27 million pounds linked partly to care demand and reduced government funding.
The budget report shows the operations division is expected to overspend by six point eight million pounds, with parking services three point two million pounds over budget, parking income about seven per cent below target and seafront services also over budget.
Councillor Mike Cox, deputy leader and finance portfolio holder, said visitors still came to Bournemouth during the summer but spent differently, with some "bringing their own food" and "not parking for as long as they used to".
He said parking revenue had increased overall, but not by as much as expected when the budget was set, and added that "people are changing their habits and the way they do things".
Councillor Cox also said the council's work to encourage walking and cycling may be reducing parking use, and said: "Unfortunately, the issue has been, there has been less parking income."
