THE DORCHESTER BID says traders in the town will bounce back from the setback of a delay to pay on exit parking.

Around a month ago head of parking services at West Dorset District Council Chris Graves announced to a meeting of the BID (Business Improvement District) that pay on exit parking would be coming to the town in a matter of weeks.

However, the council has now confirmed that the scheme will not be introduced on a trial basis until late next year.

A pilot scheme at Wollaston Road had been due to run as early as this summer but the delays have dragged on and now the county town is faced with waiting another 12 months before it gets pay on exit parking.

Project director at the Dorchester BID Phil Gordon said the news was a setback but backed businesses of the county town to ‘rise to the challenge’.

He said: “Life goes on and the shops and businesses of the town will as always rise to the challenge and stick with what we have got as that’s the only choice we have.”

Mr Gordon also urged West Dorset District Council to rethink the latest proposed timetable and try to bring the system in sooner.

He said: “I would very much urge the council to review the current time frame and see if it it’s at all humanly possible to bring the pay on exit that the whole town wants and needs forward as soon as possible.”

Leader of West Dorset District Council Robert Gould said: “We are making major investment into improving parking in West Dorset car parks as we know how important it is for residents, visitors and the local economy.

“We will be now taking a phased approach to introducing improvements to ensure that we get them right and deliver a reliable service.

“Old unreliable machines will be replaced by brand new machines and these will be installed in phases across the district, starting in Dorchester this November.

“Machines will then be upgraded to take card and contactless payments as soon as security protocols are finalised with our banks.

“Pay on exit parking will be introduced on a trial basis late next year once it is integrated with existing permits and concessions to provide a seamless, fault free system.”