Welsh councils generate £13.8m from parking charges

Figures from the RAC Foundation have shown that local authorities in Wales have made a combined profit of £13.8 million in 2015/16 from car parking penalties.

It is the third consecutive year that the collective car parking charge sum has increased. The data indicated that 19 of the 22 councils made a profit from the charges, with Cardiff Council making the most at £3.5 million.

Meanwhile Flintshire, Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen councils lost money on parking, losing £423,000, £310,000 and £81,000 respectively.

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “Overall council parking profits in Wales are up sharply again this year, possibly reflecting a recovering economy with people using their cars more.

“It is important that the surplus is ploughed back into transport projects – there are plenty on Welsh motorists’ wish-lists, not least the ongoing campaign to tackle potholes. 

“Some cash could also go towards providing and maintaining off-street car parks, so that they are seen by drivers as a safe and convenient alternative to finding space at the kerbside. 

“While we don’t want our towns and cities dominated by the car, we must remember how dependent many people still are on them. In several areas of Wales – including Blaenau Gwent, Neath Port Talbot and Torfaen – more than 80 per cent of those in employment rely on the car to get to work, some of the highest proportions in Britain.”