Council made £1m from parking fees

Wakefield Council leader Peter Box has hit out at claims that councils make profits from parking charges and fines.
Peter Box after announcing budget proposals
 
LOCATION:  Wakefield Town HallPeter Box after announcing budget proposals
 
LOCATION:  Wakefield Town Hall
Peter Box after announcing budget proposals LOCATION: Wakefield Town Hall

A new report carried out by the RAC Foundation found that in 2012/13 Wakefield Council made £1m from on and off-street parking.

The RAC added up income from parking charges and penalty notices, then deducting running costs.

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Coun Peter Box, commenting as a member of the Local Government Association’s economy and transport board, said the report was “peddling the myth” that councils use parking charges to make money.

He said: “Councils are on the side of hard-pressed motorists by keeping a lid on parking charges.

“Councils do not make a profit from parking. All income from charges and fines is spent on running parking services and any surplus goes on essential transport projects such as bring our dilapidated road network up to scratch and providing subsidised bus travel for children or elderly residents.”

The RAC said its data came from the annual returns councils make to the Department for Communities and Local Government.

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The figures are calculated by adding up income from parking charges and penalty notices, then deducting running costs.

Prof Stephen Glaister, RAC Foundation director, said: “Once again councils have made record amounts from parking. Yet overall spending on local roads has fallen by nine per cent over three years with road safety expenditure down by as much as 20 per cent.”

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