Nearly half of parking tickets handed out in Wakefield end up being overturned on appeal

A total of 4,107 parking ticket appeals were lodged with Wakefield Council between January 1 and September 30 last tear.

A Freedom of Information request has shown 1,795 of those appeals were successful.

The national average for successfully appealing against a parking ticket stands at 34 per cent, meaning around one in three drivers has their fine cancelled upon appeal.

The success rate is 44 per cent in Wakefield, though, according to online car marketplace heycar.

By comparison, Calderdale's rate was 37 per cent and Leeds was just 13 per cent.

The data also shows drivers fined in Bradford and Kirklees were more likely to have their appeal accepted than refused, with the success rate standing at 52 per cent and 60 per cent respectively.

Karen Hilton, chief commercial officer at heycar, said: “If you know you were in the wrong, then it’s probably best not to waste your time appealing a parking ticket - but if your ticket genuinely blew over in the wind you could have a case."

Glynn Humphries, Wakefield Council’s service director for environment and streetscene, said: “We have a duty to enforce parking rules to improve road safety, ensure fair access to parking, tackle congestion and help keep the district moving.

“The council does not make a profit from parking charges and fines. This income is reinvested into our highways to help improve the network for residents, motorists and pedestrians.

“Anyone who thinks they may have been issued a fine incorrectly, can appeal by calling 0345 8 506 506 or on the council’s website.”

Visit www.trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk to make a submission.