ALMOST 2,000 people participated in a survey on a controversial new parking permit being planned for Dorset.

Dorset Council launched a survey on a new car park permit that is being developed to replace the 76 different car park permits currently available across the county, covering the old district and borough local authority areas.

The proposed annual residents, workers and businesses car park permit would allow drivers to park in specified Dorset Council car parks throughout the year.

A spokesman for Dorset Council said: "We had over 1,900 responses to the recent car park permit survey and we’re currently analysing the data. Based on the responses, we will start to consider feasible options for the proposed permit."

As part of the council's parking transformation project, car park charges could increase to £10 a day in some Dorset car parks from next year, including Weymouth and Portland. The new pricing structure has been created in a bid to standardise costs across the Dorset Council area, which currently span from free to £9 all day.

For more information on the proposed parking changes, visit the Dorset Council website.