Council parking profits soar by 15 per cent
09 January 2013 by IAM
Councils in England made over £411 million in parking charges last year (2011/12) - an increase of 14.9 per cent - according to research by the Institute of Advanced Motorists. In 2010/11 Councils made £358 million.
In 2009/10 councils made £322 million from parking charges making the three-year increase 27 per cent.
The top council earners in 2011/12, (with percentage increases based on the previous year) were:
Westminster (£38m) up 8.7 per cent
Kensington and Chelsea (£27.5m) up 31 per cent
Camden (£25m) up 18 per cent
Outside of London the biggest earners were:
Brighton and Hove (£13.7m) up 18.9 per cent
Milton Keynes (£6.5m) up 9.3 per cent
Newcastle upon Tyne (£6.2m) up 51 per cent
At the same time the amount spent by councils on road safety, education and safe routes to schools, decreased by 18 per cent, from £127.5m to £105m.
Overall revenue spending on highways and transport reduced by 6 per cent between 2010/11 and 2011/12, while capital expenditure (on construction, tarmac etc) reduced by an estimated 13%.
A Department for Communities and Local Government report from June 2012 estimates that capital expenditure on highways and transport will fall by a further 11% over 2012/133.
IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “Councils are making record-breaking profits from parking, while cutting road safety spending on life-saving services such as, education for young drivers, cycle training, and safe routes to schools schemes.
“At the same time cuts to road maintenance will mean a backlog of repairs which will simply cost more to fix in the long term.”
Notes to editors
Calculated using figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government (Revenue Outturn figures).
2010/11 -
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ty-data--52011/12 -
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ty-data--2Regional figures are: Revenue from parking for councils in England by region
Region Parking revenue 2010/11 Parking revenue 2011/12 Percentage change
East of England 14,107,000 9,637,000 -31.686
East Midlands 13,221,000 14,774,000 11.7465
London 185,225,000 217,513,000 17.4318
North East 7,862,000 6,278,000 -20.148
North West -1,560,000 11,424,000 -832.31
South East 48,933,000 60,475,000 23.5874
South West 48,226,000 41,411,000 -14.131
West Midlands 20,681,000 19,796,000 -4.2793
Yorkshire and Humber 20,107,000 28,841,000 43.4376
Department for Communities and local Government ‘Local authority capital expenditure and receipts – England’ 2011-12 Provisional Outturn & 2012-13 Forecast
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... 168766.pdf The IAM is the UK’s largest independent road safety charity, dedicated to improving standards and safety in driving, motorcycling and cycling. The commercial division of the IAM operates through its occupational driver training company IAM Drive & Survive. The IAM has more than 200 local volunteer groups and over 100,000 members in the UK and Ireland. It is best known for the advanced driving test and the advanced driving, motorcycling and cycling courses. Its policy and research division offers advice and expertise on road safety.
Parking fees are getting totally out of hand. I agree a cost to maintain is required from Councils and perhaps 'by use' is necessary but are we not already paying in Council Tax charges for roads and maintenance ?
This increase in profits leaves road users less able to afford vehicle repairs and service. The motorists do not have never ending pockets ! Road Safety will be negatively influenced from this. I have been amazed at some charges it is incredible what some places charge !