People are ripping down free parking posters in Dorchester
Tomorrow is the first day of free parking in Dorchester in December.
People are ripping down free parking posters in Dorchester... and then paying for parking.
Free parking days organised by Dorchester BID with Dorset Council to encourage more of us to shop local each Christmas
The signs are placed over machines to make sure people know not to pay for parking on days where it is being provided for free.
But some of us are determined to make sure we don't get a ticket, and are ripping down the posters.
Phil Gordon from Dorchester BID said:
"One of my excellent ambassador team members has gone around sticking the a5 leaflet flyer over the top of the keypad of the pay and display machines.
"Some members of the public, for whatever reason, have been pulling them off. People have even been pulling them off and paying for their parking, so they're not even reading the notice that's trying to stop them paying for parking on those free days.
"If there's a sticker over the machine, and it's one of the days mentioned on the sticker, it probably is free parking."
Saturday 4th December is the second day the scheme's been open. The full list of free parking days are:
20th November 2021
27th November 2021
4th December 2021
22nd December 2021
27th December 2021
28th December 2021
3rd January 2022
Phil told Greatest Hits Radio Dorset why the free parking is so important:
"I think anything that incentivises people to come to the town is a good thing and knowing the best we can ever really hope for is a few free parking days in town.
"It has to help, and the car parks, certainly on the two days we've done so far, have been significantly busier."