Manchester Street With Just 29 Bays Generates £733k in Parking Fines

22,607 Parking Tickets Issued on Manchester Street Since Rule Change

# Manchester Street With 29 Parking Bays Generates More Than £733,000 in Fines A Manchester city centre street with just 29 parking bays has generated almost £734,000 in parking penalties since new overnight restrictions were introduced, according to figures obtained by the Manchester Evening News. St John Street has seen 22,607 Penalty Charge Notices issued over the period, with the fines totalling £733,960. The figures have put the spotlight on a small stretch of road where parking rules changed in January 2024. ## Why are so many drivers being fined on St John Street? Before the change, motorists could park on St John Street for free after 8pm. That changed when a single yellow line was introduced, restricting parking between 8pm and 8am. The new restriction meant drivers who had previously used the street for overnight parking could no longer do so under the same arrangements. Manchester City Council's current parking information confirms that St John Street has 29 bays and that single-yellow restrictions are enforced between 8pm and 8am. During the daytime, St John Street operates as a pay-and-display parking location, with a maximum stay of two hours and no return within one hour. The council currently lists charges of £2 for up to 30 minutes, £4 for an hour, £5.50 for 90 minutes and £7 for two hours. That makes understanding the signs particularly important for anyone parking on the street, as the rules change depending on the time of day. The Manchester Evening News reports that the 22,607 PCNs issued since the changes have resulted in £733,960 in fines, making St John Street a notable source of parking penalty revenue despite its relatively small number of spaces. The figures also show how a parking restriction on a short city-centre road can have a significant impact on motorists over time. Manchester City Council's own parking data has previously identified St John Street among the city's locations with high numbers of on-street PCNs. Its 2023/24 parking annual report recorded 3,974 PCNs on St John Street during that reporting year. For drivers visiting Manchester city centre, the key point is that parking after 8pm on St John Street is not simply a continuation of the daytime parking arrangement. The single-yellow restriction applies overnight, meaning motorists need to check the road markings and signs before leaving their vehicle there. The story also highlights why drivers should not rely on previous parking habits when returning to a familiar street. A road that was previously used for free overnight parking can have different restrictions after a change in traffic orders or road markings. For anyone planning to park in central Manchester, checking the restrictions before leaving the vehicle can help avoid an unexpected Penalty Charge Notice. St John Street's experience is a reminder that the number of parking spaces on a road does not necessarily reflect the number of parking penalties that can be issued there. With only 29 bays, the street has nevertheless recorded more than 22,000 PCNs since the overnight rules changed. For drivers, the safest approach is simple: check the signs, check the restriction times and make sure the parking arrangement still applies before leaving the car.