Jane’s idea isn’t a waste of spaces...

From the archive, first published Friday 20th Apr 2007.

AN ACCOUNTANT has found an innovative solution to the parking problems in Bournemouth.

Jane Kelly and her boyfriend, window cleaner Ian Woodland, have set up an online introduction service which allows the owners of free parking spaces to meet people who are looking for places to park their car.

Ms Kelly, 41, from Winton said: "I used to work in Bournemouth town centre and on my way to work I noticed several free parking spaces in people's driveways or outside blocks of flats and several commuters driving around looking for somewhere to park their cars.

"The website is designed to work like a dating service between the two."

The idea is that people who have parking spaces they are not using are able to make some money by renting their space to commuters or visitors to the town.

Ms Kelly said: "The website offers a national service and we have already had enquiries from people in Edinburgh, but I am hoping to start the business in Bournemouth because that is where I live."

The owners of the parking space will be able to decide how much to charge for the space.

Ms Kelly said: "I am hoping they will undercut the price of other car parks in the area.

"As the council is selling off parking spaces the problems with parking in Bournemouth town centre are only going to get worse and so I hope that this service will become more popular."

Ms Kelly had the idea for the service a couple of years ago but when she was recently made redundant from her job she had the time and money to set it up.

For more information visit usemyspace.co.uk. At the moment it is free to register but in the future this will cost £18.