Parking fines in London are poised to rise by £30 following the approval of a proposal by Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan.
This decision comes in response to a request from London Councils, which advocates for the region’s local governments, including the City of London Corporation. London Councils believes that the adjustment will serve as a deterrent against “anti-social and obstructive parking.”
In areas designated as Band A, the higher penalty charges will see an increase from £130 to £160, while Band B areas will see an increase from £110 to £140.
Matt Jaffa, a representative of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), criticized the proposal, stating that “small businesses cannot afford these additional expenses.”
Penalties in London’s boroughs are tiered based on the seriousness of the violation, with more severe infractions, such as road obstruction, incurring heftier fines, whereas minor issues like overstaying in parking spaces attract lower fines, as stated by City Hall.
The fines also differ by location, with Band A generally covering central London and Band B referring to the outskirts.
The updated penalty charge notice (PCN) structure would be as follows:
The existing 50% discount for prompt payment within 14 days will still be available, according to City Hall.
In a public consultation regarding these proposals, half of the respondents expressed concerns over “dangerous and inconsiderate parking,” with pavement parking identified as a significant issue.
Conversely, nearly 50% of the 1,600 participants opposed the increase in PCNs, primarily due to concerns over the additional financial strain.
In its appeal to the mayor to raise the fines, London Councils noted that enforcement costs had “increased significantly.”
Mr. Jaffa from the FSB expressed alarm about the over 25% hike amid a “cost-of-doing-business crisis.” He emphasized that small enterprises are struggling to cope with such rising expenses.
He further pointed out that small businesses are “seeking incentives like extending congestion charge exemptions for electric van users.”
The proposed fee increases will be sent to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, who will have a month to respond with any objections. The Department for Transport stated that they cannot comment at this stage.
BBC News has reached out to both the mayor’s office and London Councils for their statements.
