LGA responds to new Local Government Ombudsman report on parking fines

Responding to a new Local Government Ombudsman report on parking fines, LGA Transport spokesman Cllr Martin Tett said:

“Councils are on the side of hard-pressed motorists and so try to ensure there are spaces available for everyone at all times of the day and keep traffic moving. A tiny minority do not park appropriately and cause congestion as well as making it more difficult and dangerous for others to park.

“The income raised through on-street parking charges and fines is spent on running parking services and any surplus is only spent on essential transport projects, such as tackling the roads repair backlog, which could reach £14 billion within two years, and creating new parking spaces.

"Councils, who have experienced substantial reductions to their budgets, are having to deal with the consequences of a huge increase in traffic on our roads and competition for parking places. By 2040, councils are expected to deal with increases of up to 55 per cent in traffic and up to 86 per cent in congestion levels.

"In the vast majority of cases, councils have robust procedures in place and deal rigorously and fairly with any issues about parking fines." 

 Notes to Editors

DfT traffic forecast 2015

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/road-traffic-forecasts-2015