25 October 2024
Councils in England brought in just over £1 billion* in parking fees and charges for the 2023/24 financial year, according to analysis by The AA.
Data released in October by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, showed that on-street parking raised £698.7 million across English councils, while off-street parking raised £340.4 million.
“In their quest to fill the coffers, they may end up driving their customers away.”
In comparison, the 2022/23 financial year saw local authorities raise £962.3 million** from parking, of which £673.1 million from on-street parking and £289.2 million from off-street parking.
Jack Cousens, Head of Roads Policy, said; “Councils have broken through the £1 billion income barrier, showing just how vital a revenue stream it is for them.
“With budgets stretched, local authorities will pull any lever available to bring cash into the Town Hall. The cost of parking, as well as ease of payment, has an impact on consumers and they will ‘vote with their wheels’ if they deem the price too expensive, or a hassle if they can only pay via an app or by phone.
“Now that a quarter of all retail sales are being made online, councils are seeing a drop in footfall to the High Street. In their quest to fill the coffers, they may end up driving their customers away.”
* https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66d6ca835187a43f682ddd6b/RO2_2023-24_data_by_LA.ods