Residents in Weymouth have been left angry and confused by a new parking system.

Dorset County Council, which is responsible for on-street parking, has changed the way it deals with processing resident and visitor permits.

It has handed over the management of this service to MiPermit, a company which now issues ‘virtual’ permits which are processed online or over the phone.

Digital permits have replaced the paper ones which used to be displayed in windscreens.

Residents say the man problem appears to be visitor parking tickets.

Whereas before residents were issued with a scratchcard where dates could be rubbed out as and when, residents must now alert the company by phone or via a website every time they want to use a visitor ticket, submitting information such as visiting car details.

Park District resident and local community forum member Dave Burchill says some people prefer to do business by phone rather than on a computer, as they can also raise queries. Not every resident has access to a computer, he added.

But residents cannot contact MiPermit by phone from after 4pm on Saturdays until Monday morning as the office is closed. This is generally a busy time for visitors arriving.

Mr Burchill says people therefore have to apply in advance during office hours for a permit, going through the hassle of trying to get registration numbers of visiting cars. Residents who order in advance lose out if visitors don’t turn up.

“It is confusing and unnecessary,” said Mr Burchill.

He added: “I can’t see why the old system was changed. You applied for everything at the start of the year and it was all sorted out. Now the onus is placed on residents, we have to tell them each time a visitor comes.”

Mr Burchill claimed there had been little notification of the new system.

Dorset County Council says the initiative was introduced in March with the media informed and information placed on the dorsetforyou website.

Residents are being informed by letter when their permits come up for renewal.

DCC network traffic manager Simon Gledhill said: “The move was brought about following requests from local councillors and comments from existing permit holders that the old paper-based system was outdated and laborious to use. We have responded by embracing new technology.

“There are savings more in terms of administrative efficiencies than hard cash but, while not all users are pleased, the vast majority of feedback has been positive.

"It’s still early days and there have been some teething troubles but we are working towards resolving them.

“We accept that residents can no longer check in a car window to see if there is a paper permit displayed – however, neither is road tax.”

MiPermit has been contacted for a comment.