CAR Park charges in some of Dorset's most popular coast towns will be cut from July.

The move was one of the Liberal Democrat promises in the May elections which led to them toppling the Conservatives at Dorset Council.

The Conservative group imposed big increases in many parking fees last year, up to £15 per day in some car parks, which led to a petition signed by more than 7,500 people in Weymouth. The Council, at the time, took no action other than to say the fees would be reviewed "in time."

Businesses in Weymouth claimed the higher charges were deterring both visitors and locals from coming into the town centre.

In May it was reported that Weymouth lost its title of the UK's best beach after visitors complained about the parking fees.

Dorset Council's new leader, Lib Dem Cllr Nick Ireland said that the price cut was an election promise now delivered: "The Conservatives put up charges for summer seasons despite our protests and an independent petition with more than 7,000 signatures.

"We promised we would reverse that, and we have started to do so. Some of the lost income will be covered by scrapping six political posts at £10,000 each – a saving of over £60,000 a year.

"We have selected the first three car parks which are the busiest ones and close to the resorts and beaches.

"Ideally, we would have loved to have completely thrown out the Conservative's summer pricing policy but a full review needed to be carried out which would have taken too much time and we risked missing the summer season which is so important to our seaside businesses.

"We will now look at the next set of car parks where we can cut charges."

The charges will be reduced from July 1st at the Swannery Car Park in Weymouth, West Bay Road Car Park, West Bay and Charmouth Road Car Park, Lyme Regis.

Currently, the tariffs in these car parks are:

•  Up to 30 minutes: £1.50
•  Up to 1 hour: £3
•  Up to 2 hours: £4.50
•  Up to 3 hours: £6
•  Up to 4 hours: £7.50
•  Up to 10 hours: £15

The new rates starting from July 1 will be:

•  Up to 30 minutes: £0.80
•  Up to 1 hour: £1.50
•  Up to 2 hours: £2.30
•  Up to 3 hours: £3.30
•  Up to 4 hours: £5.30
•  Up to 10 hours: £9