11/08/2010

Three local London councils have announced that they collected more money in parking fines last year despite issuing fewer parking tickets.

In London in general, income from parking tickets has fallen in 2009-2010. However, the exceptions are Havering, Sutton and Enfield councils which all reported an increase in parking fine income.

Enfield’s takings alone increased to £850,000 from £600,000. It achieved this while reducing the number of notices issued to 94,428, from 111,414. The story was similar for the other two boroughs.

Over London in general, most local authorities issued fewer fines, with the number of tickets issued over the past two years falling by 22 per cent.

Parking officials claim that civil enforcement measures have resulted in drivers becoming less likely to break parking rules. In addition, the recession has had an effect, explained Catherine West from London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee. She added, “The recession has meant that traffic levels are down so there is less pressure on parking spaces and less illegal parking.”

The highest number of parking notices were issued in the City of Westminster at 500,000, followed by Camden Council at 400,000.