Thousands of drivers could claim back parking fines after council error

Council admits 9,318 parking fines were wrongly issued as refunds continue

Thousands of drivers could be owed parking fine refunds after council error Thousands of motorists could be entitled to money back after a council admitted that parking fines were incorrectly issued in a number of its car parks. Elmbridge Borough Council has opened a refund scheme after identifying a procedural error that affected Penalty Charge Notices issued between 2020 and April 2026. 9,318 parking fines affected The council says 9,318 parking charge notices were issued in the affected car parks since 2020. The latest figures show that 1,220 refund applications had been received by September 8, with 1,167 payments already made. The issue affects council car parks in Esher, Cobham, Hersham, Walton-on-Thames and Weybridge, although not every parking ticket issued in those areas will qualify for a refund. Eligibility depends on where and when the parking fine was issued. Motorists may be able to claim if they received and paid a parking fine during specified periods in the affected car parks. For several car parks, eligible fines include those issued between 8am and 9am or between 6pm and 7pm from January 6, 2020 until April 2026. There are also separate rules covering Sunday parking fines, while Ashley Park in Walton-on-Thames has additional time periods that may qualify. The council has published a list of affected car parks and says motorists can check whether their vehicle received an incorrectly issued parking fine. What drivers need to claim Motorists applying for a refund will need to provide their name and contact details, vehicle registration number, proof that they paid the parking fine and bank details for the refund. The council says drivers can still apply even if they no longer own the vehicle, provided they can provide the relevant registration number. Successful claims are expected to be paid within two weeks of a complete and valid application. The council has apologised for the error and said it wants the refund process to be as straightforward as possible for affected drivers. The latest development is particularly relevant to motorists who may have assumed an old parking fine was final and never realised that they could potentially recover the money. Drivers who have used the affected Elmbridge car parks should therefore check the council's eligibility information rather than assuming that an old parking fine cannot be challenged. The council's refund scheme is now open, giving potentially affected motorists an opportunity to check their records and make a claim where they meet the conditions.