Councils should be forced to reveal where income from parking charges goes to ensure it isn't plugging ‘budget holes’, according to the RAC.
A survey by the motoring organisation found a ‘Great British parking squeeze’ with motorists increasingly frustrated by higher charges and a lack of spaces. It said 41% of motorists believe councils use parking charges to subsidise spending in other areas.
RAC technical director David Bizley said: ‘Britain’s local authorities have undoubtedly got a tough job to keep a growing driving population happy while allowing our high streets to thrive and keep traffic moving, but they need to think and act boldly.
‘We need transparency. Councils should be compelled to report where the money raised from parking goes – giving drivers assurance that it is being ploughed back into road and transport improvements, rather than just plugging budget holes elsewhere.’
But a spokesperson for the Local Government Association, said the RAC’s report was not ‘a true reflection of the reality of parking in our communities’.
He said: ‘Councils remain on the side of hard-pressed motorists by keeping a lid on parking charges which are only set to rise with inflation this year. Councils have to try and strike a balance when setting parking charges to ensure there are spaces available for everyone at all times of the day.
‘Parking charges are essential to help councils keep traffic flowing and pedestrians and motorists safe. On-street parking revenue is spent on paying for parking services. Any surplus is spent on essential transport projects, such as tackling the £12bn roads repair backlog and creating new parking spaces.
‘Local government is already the most open and transparent part of the public sector. Many councils already publish annual parking reports to make it easier and clearer for residents to understand and combat the deep-rooted misconceptions about parking.’
