Parking service runs up £232,700 loss

WARRINGTON’S parking service ran at a loss of £232,700 last year – an increase of £90,649 compared with the previous year.
This is thought to have been caused by the economic climate, a big increase in competition from privately operated car park and changes in shopping habits, with more shoppers travelling to retail parks where parking is free.
A report to be considered by the borough council’s executive board stresses that parking enforcement in Warrington was never intended to be a money-making operation.
But Cllr Linda Dirir (right), executive member for highways, transportation and climate change, admits in the report: “The fact that the council’s parking account is continuing to run at a deficit means that it represents a significant pressure on the council’s budget
“Officers have been examining options to reduce this deficit and have implemented a number of minor changes to enforcement activity aimed at reducing this deficit.”
An updated parking strategy is already underway and should be completed by March to go out for public consultation in the spring.
Pay and display parking netted £367,796 for the council while penalty charges brought in £402,531.
The total number of penalty charge notices (PCNs) remained static at 12,613. But there was a 40 per cent increase in the number of off-street PCNs.
However, since parking enforcement started in 2007-8, there has been a 27 per cent reduction in the number of PCNs issued, due to increased compliance by motorists.
Cllr Dirir says while a reduction in the number of PCNs issued is one of the main factors leading to the service operating at a deficit, it can also be argued that it means a significant reduction in the number of motorists parking illegally.
This means the borough’s road network is safer and less congested.