Council's parking profits pile up to £25m (From Wandsworth Guardian)
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Wandsworth Council’s parking profits pile up to £25m
6:00am Friday 1st February 2013 in News Exclusive By Jamie Henderson
A total of 1,579 vehicles were impounded in Wandsworth – more than 30 a week
Wandsworth Council raked in more than £25m in parking fees over the past year, according to new figures.
The data, provided by the Institute for Advanced Motorists (IAM), show the council’s parking profits have increased by 11 per cent.
Neighbouring councils such as Merton (£5.2m), Richmond (£3.7m), Kingston (£3.5m) and Lambeth (£5.6m) generated significantly less profit over the same period.
A number of London councils, including Croydon, Richmond, Lambeth and Southwark, made less money from parking last year than the previous year.
Parking attendants in the borough dished out 12,090 more penalty charge notices (PCNs) last year (183,558) than the year before (171,468) – a 7 per cent rise.
According to figures from London councils a total of 1,579 vehicles were also impounded in Wandsworth – more than 30 a week.
Simon Best, IAM chief executive, said: “Councils must recognise the financial burdens already faced by motorists and rule out any further rises in parking fees.”
Parking campaigner Barrie Segal, from appealnow.com, branded the figures as “disturbing”.
He said: “It merely confirms what motorists already believed; that it’s all about raising money and revenue and not about road safety.”
“The cost of parking permits in the borough rose £10 to £130 last year, significantly more than neighbouring Merton where residents pay £90, while parking near to any of the borough’s town centres will cost motorists up to £2.80 an hour.
David Melville, a Putney resident for 30 years, said: “As a motorist and a resident it feels like we are being squeezed financially depite the tough economic conditions.”
A Wandsworth Council spokesman defended the costs, pointing to a number of community services financed by the funds.
He said: “All the money raised from parking must by law be spent on transport improvements in the borough.
“As well as helping maintain roads the largest portion is spent on paying for the Freedom Pass scheme for older residents, as well as taxicards for disabled people and paying the travel costs of disabled children and those with special needs who need help getting to and from special schools.”
