Parking fine ‘cash cow’

DRIVERS across Oldham paid out more than £750,000 in parking fines last year, it has been revealed.

Pressure group the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) said parking fines are simply a “cash cow” for councils and an alternative way to raise their budgets.

Freedom of Information requests by the TPA have revealed that in 2008-9 Oldham Council collected £761,245 in fines, up from £706,285 in the previous 12 months.

Nationally, councils issued fines worth £328 million — down 16 per cent on £379 million in 2007-08.

The Road Traffic Act 1991 allowed local authorities to apply for the legal powers to take over the enforcement of on-street car parking regulations from the police.

In return they are allowed to keep the proceeds, with any surplus income from the fines ring fenced for local transport improvements.

Jennifer Dunn, policy analyst with the Drivers’ Alliance and the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “For many councils parking fines have become a lucrative source of income. But while revenues are being made at the cost of the motorist, taxpayers haven’t seen their council tax fall, or their local services improve.

“Motorists are being treated like cash cows, but the only people that appear to be benefiting are wardens and their bosses.”

Councillor Mark Alcock, Oldham Council’s cabinet member for environment and infrastructure said: “Oldham Council’s decriminalised parking service started in October, 2001, and is provided by NSL. The income received from fixed penalty notices is used to offset the cost of providing the enforcement service.

“This service aims to ensure that vehicles are parked safely and do not present hazards or obstacles to other road users.

“As we all know you only need one vehicle to park on double yellow lines in some areas at busy times and it can cause gridlock.

“Many of the parking restrictions have been requested by residents and businesses because of the problems caused by inappropriate parking.

“This service is designed to ensure the safety of road users and to keep the traffic flowing freely. Not to increase income for the council.”

Ministers previously warned councils not to set targets for parking tickets, or income from fines, to try to curb criticism that the true motive was raising revenue, not to keep traffic moving.

New parking regulations mean motorists can now receive parking tickets by post after being caught on CCTV. The rules give councils the power to set a sliding scale of fines of up to £120 for different types of parking offence.