Brits can now get parking fines on 80,200 streets

BRITS can now receive parking fines on 80,200 roads across the country, new figures show – with Manchester, Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea among the hotspots.

Motorists were hit with 10 fines every minute in 2021, with a total of 5.2 million penalty notices (PCNs) being issued.

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A total of 63 percent of municipalities increased the number of streets with parking restrictions in 2021, meaning 1,200 more were punishable than in 2020.

Almost a third (29 percent) of municipalities also introduced new resident parking permit controls in 2021.

According to research by Churchill Motor Insurance, authorities in Manchester issued the most PCNs for parking, totaling 341,000 – scalding motorists.

Westminster was close behind, putting 274,000 yellow letters on cars in a year.

Kensington and Chelsea were also in the top ten, while Nottingham, Brighton and Hove and Winchester also made the hit list.

Meanwhile, in 2021, London accounted for over a third (37%) of all PCNs.

It is followed by the South East (18 percent), the North West (13 percent) and the East Midlands (7 percent).

The capital has also taken the most money from fines, accounting for £143m in fines – more than half (56%) of the national total.

Londoners have also been hit with above-average PCNs, with the City of London handing out parking fines of up to £130 and nine out of ten councils issuing the most valuable PCNs based in the capital.

The average value of PCNs issued in London in 2021 was £74.37, which is 53 per cent higher than the UK average of £43.63.

Westminster took the top spot in terms of the value of fines, issuing £32.3m worth of PCNs.

Meanwhile, Kensington and Chelsea had a profit of £16.6million, while Manchester brought in £15.3million.

Islington followed close behind with £13.7million in fines, while Richmond upon Thames completed the top five with £9.4million.

A total of 400,000 more fines were issued in 2021 compared to 2020 (8 percent), representing an increase of 8 percent and 1,300 additional fines per day throughout the year.

Nicholas Mantel, Head of Churchill Motor Insurance, said: “It is becoming increasingly difficult for motorists in cities across the UK to find parking, particularly free, as local authorities seek to reduce congestion and introduce more controls.

“Nearly two-thirds of councils have introduced new rules recently, meaning there are many roads with restrictions that they didn’t have in 2020.

“The last thing motorists need is a fine, so it’s important to double-check parking signs before exiting your car.”

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