'UK's most expensive car parking spaces' rake in billions of pounds in 12 months

18 October 2023 , 13:10

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Billions are made in a year from councils in the 'UK's most expensive car parking spaces' (Image: Getty Images)

UK's most expensive car parking spaces' helped councils and other authority's rake in nearly £2billion in the last 12 months, it has been revealed.

Across England authorities pocketed £1.95billion from fees, permits, fines and car park rent in 2022-23 It has prompted motorists to accuse them of fleecing drivers with charges which can reach £6 an hour. Parking fees have increased massively and this does not take into account cash made raked from clean air and low-traffic zones which many areas are introducing.

The west London boroughs of Hammersmith, Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, were the most expensive areas bringing £41million profits to authorities who charge £6 an hour for parking. It has caused people to complain about a two-tiered system in west London where authorities plough cash into upmarket borough but ignore poorer areas.

MailOnline reports prices mean divers are opting to use public transport. Motorist Charlie Neil said: "When I park, 100 per cent the price has gone up I think it’s £5 an hour (the actual figure is £4.70).

"If you pay the residential permit it actually works out very, very cheap, you might pay 75 or 80p a day. But if somebody comes outside or you don’t have a permit, and you want to park for two hours, then it’s £10, £12. You realise you’re just spending hundreds."

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He insists prices have reached another level since the Coronavirus restrictions were in place and says businesses and trade are suffering as a result. The 54-year-old also said prices varied depending on how affluent the area is. Westminster City Council raised £103million from parking charges last year and £71.6million was profit.

But in non-tourist places, he says the streets are dirty, but when you reach Marble Arch it is like a different world as visitors go there. Outside the Capital, Brighton & Hove wins the honour of having is the most expensive parking area in the country at a eye-watering £5.10 an hour. Also ranking highly were Bournemouth and Nottingham where visitors were chargeds £3.30 and £2.60 an hour to park in the street. Paul Cheston of Brighton said drivers were easy to target and constantly get ripped off. He claims it is getting worse annually and described it as 'a scandal' In the city, meanwhile, wardens can issue 16 parking tickets a day in the summer months.

A spokesman for the Local Government Association, where councils are represented, said: "Income raised through parking charges is spent on running parking services. Any surplus is spent on essential transport projects, including fixing the £14 billion road repairs backlog, reducing congestion, tackling poor air quality and supporting local bus services. Motorists can avoid fines by ensuring they observe parking and traffic rules that are only there to help all drivers get around and find parking safely, smoothly and fairly."

Graeme Murray