Glasgow motorists fork out £25 million for parking tickets over the last six years

Drivers have paid out more than £4.8 million this current financial year so far – between April until February. Penalty charge notices cost £60 but are reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days.

Last year’s fines for 2022 to 2023 also hit more than £4.8 million. Pre – Covid years 2018 to 2019 generated £5.02 million with the 12 months during 2019 to 2020 earning £5.48 million according to freedom of information figures released by Glasgow MSP Annie Wells.

It comes as Glasgow City Council sets out plans to increase parking charges and charge for parking after 6pm across the city.

Scottish Conservative politician Ms Wells questions whether the rising parking costs for the public can be justified considering the “eye watering” income brought in by tickets. But a council spokesman said enforcement is “crucial” for ensuring compliance with regulations to boost  road safety among other benefits.

Ms Wells said: “People across Glasgow are understandably furious at the hike in parking charges and their extended use.

“They’ll be even more angry when they discover the council raked in £25 million over six years in penalty notices. This eye-watering income will make many question where the money has gone and why the council believes motorists need to be punished further.

“Much of this penalty charge notice income will have come from hardworking Glaswegians who simply made a mistake and had to cough up a significant charge as a consequence. It calls into question again the justification for these parking charge hikes.”

A spokesman for the council said: “Parking enforcement is crucial for achieving compliance with parking restrictions designed to promote road safety, ease congestion and share limited road space for parking as fairly as possible.

“Drivers have a responsibility to observe the road regulations or they become liable to receive a penalty charge notice. If drivers complied with the parking regulations at all times there would be no revenue from parking fines.

“Changes to parking charges for on-street bays and car parks have been agreed as part of a budget that required to find £107m worth savings from council services over the next three years.

“The budget has sought to target poverty and invest in support for communities with Council Tax frozen for the next year. The changes to parking charge are consistent with Glasgow’s transport strategy, which seeks to encourage a shift to more sustainable forms of transport.

“Any revenue from parking charges and fines must be used in support of the parking system and any additional revenue must be used for other roads, transportation and environmental initiatives.

“This year’s budget will also invest almost £9.6m in street lighting, roads and footpaths, while the council continues to work with transport operators and national and regional transport agencies to secure improvements to public transport.”

Penalty charge notice income:

2018 – 2019 – £5.023 million

2019 to 2020 – £5.48 million

2020 – 2021 – £1.99 million

2021 to 2022 – £3.139 million

2022 to 2023 – £4.88 million

2023 to 2024 to date – £4.872 million