ON-STREET parking charges are likely to be introduced in Swanage and Wareham by Dorset County Council.

The pay and display fees will be similar to the nearest off-street car park but local residents will have the option of buying a £60-a-year parking permit.

Dorset County Council has not said how many streets are may be affected or how much income the council is aiming to collect.

The timing of a public consultation period has yet to be announced but the final decision on the idea will be made by the county council's roads and rights of way committee.

Tim Westwood, the council's transportation manager, said: "People have come to expect they have the right to park for free on the public highway but they don't."

The idea of on-street pay-and-display meters was included as part of decriminalised parking enforcement legislation introduced in the early 1990s.

Mr Westwood said: "This was first published in the local transport plan five years ago with no time frame attached."

"The way our parking attendants currently have to enforce limited waiting areas is extremely inefficient.

"Where there is no return within two hours they have to take the vehicle details then come back after two hours to check if it has gone.

"If we have pay and display it will be a much better use of our parking attendants."

He added: "We have to work out in our own minds the extent of what is sensible.

"The towns we are choosing - Wareham, Swanage, Dorchester and Lyme Regis - are all part of the Jurassic coast.

"It is a very popular area now and more people are coming by car.

"Quite frankly they have to pay for the privilege.

"If you live in a residential street where very few properties have the opportunity to park within their own land, in a garage or driveway, they can apply for a residential parking permit."

First published: October 3