Southend Council make £6.4million from car parking fees and fines

Southend City Council made £6.4million in profit from car parking fees and fines in the last financial year.

The size of the revenue earned has reignited a debate over the costs of parking on or near Southend seafront.

The car parks in ‘Zone 1A’ in Southend are popular with visitors due to their proximity to the seafront. However they are also the most expensive, such as Seaway carpark near the seafront.

Adam Hotson, a local accountant, pointed out that the carparks away from the main seafront area are cheaper. He said: “There’s loads of places to park for cheaper. The Royals is £8 for 7 hours for example. And there are many free places to park if you know where to look and don’t mind a short walk. If you want to park right outside the attractions then you are going to pay a premium.”

Some motorists are in support of the Council, including Thomas Curtis who said: “It’s a sign of a larger problem. Councils have been starved of funding for 10+ years, yet still have services they must legally provide. Money has to come from somewhere. Unfortunately parking is a needed revenue stream.”

What to do when you receive a parking ticket (Penalty Charge Notices / PCN)

If you believe you should not have received a parking fine in Southend, you are able to challenge it with the council.

The Parking Enforcement Officers take photos at the time of issuing a ticket, and these can be viewed online 24 hours after it’s issued.

Your challenge against your PCN will be placed in a queue for consideration by the council. While you’re waiting, no further charges will be applied.

The council will consider your comments and then respond to you in writing. The process can take up to 6 weeks so don’t worry if you haven’t heard anything for a while.

You can challenge your Southend parking fine here:

Parking fines are most commonly issued for:

• If you park in a paid carpark space without clearly displaying a valid ticket.
• If you park on single or double yellow lines, or where waiting or loading restrictions are in force.
• If you are parked, loading or unloading in a restricted street.
• If you are parked for longer than permitted.
• If you return to the same parking place within the allowed time of leaving the parking place (such as when it is no return within 4 hours).
• If you park in a specially reserved bay, such as a loading place, a disabled bay, permit holder bay or taxi rank, unless you are authorised to do so.
• If you park at a bus stop during prohibited hours.
• If you park the wheels of your vehicle outside of a marked parking bay.