Carmarthenshire Council collected more than £400,000 from parking fines in a single year, with motorists issued over 9,700 penalty charge notices between August 2025 and July 2026.
Figures obtained by WalesOnline through a freedom of information request reveal that 9,709 penalty charge notices were issued, generating £416,268.09 in fines. The data also identifies the worst locations in the county for receiving a parking penalty.
Top parking fine hotspots
Nine of the ten worst places to park without receiving a fine are in Carmarthen or Llanelli, the county's two largest towns. The list includes John Street Car Park in Carmarthen, a side street in Llanelli, and a location in Llandeilo.
The locations where motorists are most susceptible to receiving a parking penalty are:
- John Street car park, Carmarthen
- Side street off Murray Street (west of the multi-storey car park), Llanelli
- Lammas Street, Carmarthen
- Cowell Street, Llanelli
- Rhosmaen Street, Llandeilo
- Park Crescent, Llanelli
- Cambrian Place, Carmarthen
- Erw Road, Llanelli
- Chapel Street, Carmarthen
- Stepney Street, Llanelli
Enforcement methods and revenue trends
Parking violations are caught by enforcement officers on patrol or by a camera enforcement vehicle called Iolo Patrolo, which features two roof-mounted cameras that capture evidence of unlawful parking. The footage is reviewed by council officials, who issue a payment demand notice to the car owner if a violation is identified.
The vehicle entered service in 2019 and cost the authority more than £50,000. Between April 2019 and April 2020, its technology resulted in £80,000 being paid in parking fines, swiftly recovering the expenditure.
While £416,268.09 represents a drop compared to the previous 12-month period, when £462,905 worth of fines were issued between August 2024 and August 2025, the council maintains that its intention is not to generate income.
Council defends enforcement approach
Carmarthenshire Council insists that issuing fines is intended to keep people safe and encourage compliance. Councillor Edward Thomas, cabinet member for transport, waste and infrastructure services, said: “Parking and traffic enforcement is carried out to encourage compliance and help keep roads, car parks and parking spaces safe, accessible and fairly managed. Its purpose is not to generate income.”
He added that income from penalty charge notices contributes towards the cost of operating the council's parking and civil enforcement service, with any surplus subject to legal restrictions on its use for eligible parking, transport, highway safety and accessibility improvements.
The council has agreed to introduce one hour of free parking across its chargeable council-owned car parks from April 2027, subject to necessary legal, technical and operational arrangements being completed. Councillor Thomas said the free first hour is intended to provide a simpler and more consistent parking offer and make it easier for residents and visitors to access town centres, local businesses, appointments and services. Enforcement will continue where parking or traffic restrictions are contravened, and the financial and operational impact of the new arrangements will be monitored following their introduction.
