A COMMUNITY campaigner who has spoken out against a new parking system was shocked after being slapped with a fine.

Park District resident Dave Burchill was issued with a parking ticket because his annual residents' permit had run out.

Under the new 'virtual' permit scheme, residents are no longer sent reminder letters in the post urging them to renew their permits – something Mr Burchill has discovered the hard way.

Email reminders are being sent but residents would only get these if they set up their account and registered an email address which is still current.

For those like Mr Burchill, who sent off his application in the post and prefers dealing with issues over the phone, there are no reminders.

He is warning that other residents could be stung in this way.

Retired postmaster Mr Burchill, a long-term member of the Waterside Weymouth Community Forum, has campaigned on many issues on behalf of town centre residents.

He spoke out last year after Dorset County Council, which is responsible for on-street parking, changed the way it deals with processing resident and visitor permits for areas like the Park District.

It has handed over the management to MiPermit, a company which issues permits processed online or over the phone. Digital permits have replaced the paper ones which used to be displayed in windscreens.

This has caused some confusion as residents, particularly those not used to using computers, try to figure out the new system – including a different way to apply for visitor permits.

Locals say at the same time they have noticed a reduction in the amount of parking spaces and more people parking illegally. They think this is because more drivers are 'chancing it' under the new system and trying to get away by parking for free.

Mr Burchill said: "Every year we had a reminder letter to say our permits were due to expire but now there's nothing, no warning. Like me, some people may find they will get a ticket.

"Even with car tax, which is virtual now, you get a letter.

"If you're going to go invisible, you need to communicate with people.

"Personally I think the whole system is a shambles."

A spokesman for Dorset County Council said: “MiPermit sends out an email reminder to customers about three weeks before annual permits are due for renewal – if an email is registered at the time of the account set-up and is current at the time of renewal.

“As a goodwill gesture, because we know Mr Burchill has been a permit holder for some time, the Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) has been cancelled. Our parking appeals team looks closely at any challenges to PCNs, considered on a case by case basis.

“The move to virtual parking permits allows residents to order their permits in a more efficient and convenient way and mirrors, for example, the way in which vehicles are now taxed.”

MR BURCHILL’S parking ticket has been cancelled, Dorset County has said. But Mr Burchill says others may not be so lucky, and urges residents who applied by post or who did not register with an email address to check the expiry date of their permits.

A county council spokesman said: “MiPermit sends out an email reminder to customers about three weeks before annual permits are due for renewal – if an email is registered at the time of the account set-up and is current at the time of renewal.

“As a goodwill gesture, because we know Mr Burchill has been a permit holder for some time, the Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) has been cancelled. Our parking appeals team looks closely at any challenges to PCNs, considered on a case by case basis.

“The move to virtual parking permits allows residents to order their permits in a more efficient and convenient way and mirrors, for example, the way in which vehicles are now taxed.”