UK councils could be handed powers to more than double parking charges under plans reportedly being considered by the Labour government. The move follows a trial in Bournemouth that saw maximum fines outside London rise from £70 to £160.
Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden condemned the proposals, accusing ministers of 'fleecing' motorists. 'This is entirely about raising revenue and raiding drivers,' he said. Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice described the plans as 'yet another tax on working Britain'.
The trial, conducted by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council last August along a seven-mile coastal stretch, issued penalty charge notices (PCNs) of £160 for major offences and £110 for minor ones, halved if paid within a fortnight. Currently, the maximum outside London is £70, dropping to £50.
BCP Council said the changes 'made roads safer, reduced congestion and improved accessibility', demonstrating that higher PCN levels can improve compliance. Transport minister Simon Lightwood confirmed the Department for Transport is reviewing the trial's findings.
Edmund King, president of the AA, slammed the idea as 'crazy', noting that it would raise penalties above those for shoplifting. The Local Government Association supported a review, pointing out that fines outside London have remained unchanged since 2008.
