Motorists hit by fewer fines... but three councils still collect a bigger windfall

Three London councils increased their takings from parking and motoring fines last year — despite issuing fewer tickets.

Income from penalty charge notices for offences such as parking without a ticket and driving in bus lanes appears to have fallen overall in London in 2009/10. But Enfield, Sutton and Havering councils bucked the trend, collecting more money from motorists despite handing out fewer tickets.

Enfield's takings went up from £600,000 to £850,000, despite the number of notices issued dropping from 111,414 to 94,428.

Sutton council, which collected £300,000 more in 2009/10, said its income had increased because it had improved its collection rate. Officials at Enfield and Havering said the disparity was partly due to parking fines being carried over from previous years, and the failure of some motorists to pay within the discounted period.

The councils were among 22 of the 34 London bodies responsible for parking enforcement that responded to the Standard's request for information on income from charge notices.

The majority saw this income fall, in the case of City of Westminster from £35 million to £20 million. Most authorities also issued fewer PCNs, though 10 saw an increase between 2008/9 and 2009/10. They are Barking and Dagenham, City of London, Croydon, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hillingdon, Lambeth, Lewisham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest.

Figures released by London Councils show the number of tickets issued fell by 22 per cent in the past two years.

A total of 4,855,073 notices were issued between April last year and March — down from 6,176,752 two years earlier.

Parking officials say that civil enforcement measures mean motorists are now less willing to break the law. But Catherine West, chairwoman of London Councils' transport and environment committee, said: "The recession has meant that traffic levels are down so there is less pressure on parking spaces and less illegal parking."

The figures released by London Councils today show the number of PCNs dropped by 11 per cent last year. Tickets for illegal parking fell from 4,689,309 in 2008/9 to 4,151,901 in 2009/10. Councils also issued fewer penalties for driving in bus lanes and "moving traffic contraventions", such as driving in pedestrianised areas.

City of Westminster issued the highest number of PCNs, 500,000, while Camden council sent out 400,000 and Transport for London 386,000.

The more serious offences come with a fine of £120 in central London and less serious offences £80, both reduced by half if paid quickly.