A PUBLIC meeting is being called amid concerns about new parking arrangements for Weymouth town centre residents.

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.

DCC says the initiative was introduced in March and 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requests from local councillors and comments from existing permit holders that the old paper-based system was “outdated and laborious to use”.

The council said earlier in the summer that most of the feedback had been positive – but there appears to be a lot of concern among Park District residents.

A meeting is being called next week where residents can air their views.

The discussion will be led by county councillor for the town centre Jon Orrell who aims to raise any relevant issues and concerns with officers at County Hall.

Resident Dave Burchill, a member of the Waterside Weymouth Community Forum which is hosting the meeting at the Park Centre, said locals were “up in arms” over the new system.

He said: “The introduction of this system is happening at the same time that we are noticing a lot more people parking in the Park District, sometimes illegally. There is just not enough spaces.

“I don’t know whether these issues are linked but I understand from various comments and local feedback that it is now taking the traffic officers longer to check whether vehicles have permits so they are not catching as many people as before.”

Mr Burchill added: “The new system places all the work on residents who now have to contact the parking company each time they want a permit for their visitors.

“There was nothing wrong with the old scheme and I and many people I have spoken too want it back.”

Cllr Orrell said: “The purpose of the meeting is to hear and suggest ideas for making things better.

“Having gained views I will then try to represent them and carry out the wishes of residents.”

The meeting is at the Park Centre, Chelmsford Street on Monday, October 9 at 7pm. All residents welcome.