Local authorities across England collectively raised just over £1bn in parking fees and charges for the 2023/24 financial year, a new study has found.
On-street parking raised £698.7m across English councils, while off-street parking raised £340.4m, according to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
This represents an increase on the 2022/23 financial year which saw councils raise £962.3m from parking, with £673.1m from on-street parking and £289.2m from off-street parking.
Commenting on the figures, Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at the AA, said: ‘Councils have broken through the £1bn income barrier, showing just how vital a revenue stream it is for them.’
He added that cash-strapped councils were pulling ‘any lever available’ to bring in revenue but might in turn discourage people from visiting their local shops.
‘In their quest to fill the coffers, they may end up driving their customers away.’
