South Gloucestershire Parking Charges Raise £816,000 as Fines Nearly Double

South Gloucestershire Parking Fines Nearly Double After New Charges Introduced

South Gloucestershire Parking Charges Bring In £816,000 as Parking Fines Nearly Double New parking charges introduced across South Gloucestershire have brought in £816,000 in pay-and-display income, but the council's parking service still recorded a deficit of almost £700,000. The charges were introduced in 22 council car parks from 2025 as the authority looked to address a long-standing funding gap within its parking service. Figures covering May 2025 to April 2026 also show that the number of parking fines issued at council car parks almost doubled during the first year of the new system. Parking charges raise hundreds of thousands of pounds The £816,000 raised from new pay-and-display charges formed a large part of the parking service's £1.6 million income during the year. However, the service also had significant costs, with staff expenses alone reaching around £1.2 million. Overall, the parking service recorded a loss of almost £700,000 despite the introduction of charges across 22 council-run car parks. The council said the initial cost of introducing the new system included installing pay-and-display machines and signs, and that these implementation costs have now been met. Parking fines almost double The introduction of charges was also followed by a sharp increase in parking enforcement. The number of fines issued at South Gloucestershire Council car parks rose from 3,549 to 6,732 in a year. That represents an increase of almost 90%, with the figures covering the period after the new parking system was introduced. However, a significant number of penalty notices were subsequently cancelled after drivers made informal challenges. Cancellations increased from 177 in the previous year to 1,119 in 2025/26, with the report highlighting driver confusion around the new parking system. What happens to parking income? South Gloucestershire Council says it expects the financial position to improve now that the initial costs of implementing the new charges have been recovered. Cllr John Bradbury, cabinet member for communities and local place, said the introduction of parking charges had reduced the long-standing deficit associated with running the authority's parking service. The council also said future income from off-street parking charges would help ease its wider financial pressures and support vital local services. For drivers, however, the figures show that the introduction of paid parking has also brought a major change in enforcement, with considerably more penalty notices being issued. Some free parking remains available Not all council parking locations require drivers to pay immediately. The report says drivers can park free for two hours at car parks next to certain medical centres. There is also four hours of free parking at Yate leisure centre. Any surplus generated through the council's parking account cannot simply be used for general spending. The report says the law restricts parking surpluses to specific purposes, including maintaining or providing car parks, public transport, roads and environmental improvements. The figures are due to be discussed by South Gloucestershire Council's scrutiny commission on September 30. For motorists, the main change remains the introduction of charges across 22 council car parks, while the sharp rise in penalty notices shows why drivers need to pay close attention to the parking conditions at individual sites.