Parking profits hit record high
CALDERDALE COUNCIL clocked up millions of pounds in profit from parking charges last year – a record high.
The AA says many local authorities see drivers as a “wallet on wheels”, and has accused some of using parking fees to plug budget gaps.
Parking services in Calderdale raised £2.1 million in profit in 2018-19, according to Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government data.
This was the highest profit the council has made from parking since comparable records began in 2008-09. On-street parking made the most profit last year, at £1.2 million. The rest came from off-street parking, such as council-run car parks.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said: “When it comes to parking charges, many councils see drivers as wallets on wheels. At a time when budgets are stretched, raking in parking fees seems to be a tool used to try and fill the councils’ coffers. Some of the incomes are eyewatering, so drivers want to see that cash reinvested in local roads to eliminate potholes and poor road markings.”
Transport research charity the RAC Foundation said profits could be overstated in some areas, as costs such as interest payments are not included.
But Steve Gooding, the foundation’s director, said: “What will surprise drivers is that even as parking income soars, the amount of money being spent on routine road maintenance by councils has been in reverse.”
The rise in sums made from parking in Calderdale reflects the trend across England, where profits hit £936 million - an increase of £63 million.
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