BOURNEMOUTH motorists could be hit with a double whammy as councillors decide whether to sell off car parks and roll out more parking meters.

A confidential report going before councillors tonight (February 2) is believed to earmark which of the town's 49 car parks are suitable for sale.

And just one week later, controversial proposals to extend on-street parking fees across the town centre look set to be approved.

Property consultants King Sturge were asked to value all the council-owned car parks across the borough so councillors could decide which, if any, should be sold.

But bids have already been invited for the Southbourne Crossroads car park, which boasts stunning sea views, and part of the Woodside Road car park, also in Southbourne.

Members of the Southbourne Crossroads Action Group (SCAG) will tonight make their protests felt by handing over a 1,150-signature petition.

They dispute the claim that Southbourne Crossroads car park is "under-used" and say that loss of the car park will mean that local families, visitors and disabled people will lose out.

Chairman of SCAG, Mark Chiverton, also speaking on behalf of Southbourne Forum, said there was strong local feeling against the plans.

He told the Echo: "We are not giving up. We have got a number of letters from the council saying that the car parks are not for sale.

"We want to keep the beach side car parks for people to be able to park near the beach. They have reduced it at Alum Chine and Boscombe and there are further plans to reduce it at Hengistbury Head and on top of that they want to sell this one as well."

Next Thursday, members of a council scrutiny panel will be asked to support the next phase of a plan to roll parking meters out across the whole of Bournemouth town centre and surrounding areas.

Under the plans, free parking spaces in Old Christchurch Road, Lansdowne Crescent, Glen Fern Road, Upper Hinton Road, Lorne Park Road, Richmond Hill, Madeira Road and Lansdowne Road will disappear and motorists will face charges of 80 pence an hour.

It follows the controversial installation of pay and display machines in Westover Road, Hinton Road and East Overcliff Drive last summer.

First published: February 2