New data has revealed that Dorset Council has collected £891,595 from residential parking permits since 2020.

The figures have been obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by cinch, the UK’s biggest online used car retailer.

In response Dorset Council said the money raised was simply used to ‘administer’ the different schemes and ‘enforce the parking arrangements’.

The number of residential parking permits issued in Dorset has grown by 8% in five years, from 2,854 in 2020 to 3,086 in 2024, cinch’s figures show.

The biggest spike in demand occurred between 2023 and 2024, when permit numbers rose by 3% (from 2,988 to 3,086).

Here’s how much Dorset Council has generated from parking permits over the last five years:

• 2020: £167,460
• 2021: £174,770 (+4%)
• 2022: £173,570 (–1%)
• 2023: £175,930 (+1%)
• 2024: £199,865 (+14%, the highest recorded revenue)

Sam Sheehan, motoring editor at cinch, commented: ‘Parking permits can be great for making sure residents have somewhere to park near their homes, but there should be a balance between affordability and accessibility.

‘Our research shows that parking permits are getting more expensive across the UK, putting extra financial strain on residents already dealing with rising living costs.’

‘Multi-car households are often the most affected. Second and third permits come at a premium and can be as much as four times more expensive than a first permit in some areas.’

A spokesperson for Dorset Council said in response to the figures: ‘We have 31 residents parking areas across 8 towns in Dorset, the money raised from the permits helps to administer the schemes and enforce the parking arrangements.

‘The council has kept the cost of permits to a minimum and have only increased the costs in line with inflation.
‘With an increase in parking issues we are seeing an equivalent increase in requests for residents parking schemes to help provide parking places for residents close to their properties.

‘As part of the councils parking review this year we will be looking at the residents parking terms and conditions and  policy to ensure it is fair and suitable for current demands and conditions.’

Further details about the residents parking schemes can be found at www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/parking/on-street-parking

Details of the cinch research can be found at www.cinch.co.uk/news/parking-permits-research