Labour Faces Criticism Over Private Parking Ticket Cap Decision

Ministers have been accused of "surrendering" to private parking firms after deciding against lowering the maximum cap on parking tickets, a move critics say could cost drivers up to £1.6 billion. The newly introduced Private Parking Code of Practice maintained the existing £100 cap on fines, despite an impact assessment suggesting a reduction to £80 could have benefited drivers.

While Prime Minister Andy Burnham initially praised the new rules for targeting "cowboy" private firms, the subsequent revelations regarding the rejected £80 cap and a dismissed proposal for a 50% discount on tickets paid within 14 days drew sharp criticism. Campaigners have long advocated for private firms to match the 50% discount offered for council-issued tickets, a measure that was also overlooked.

The government's impact assessment indicated that an £80 cap, combined with the 50% discount, could have saved drivers approximately £1.579 billion over a 10-year period. The assessment noted this option was "considered favourable as it could ease the cost of living pressure which is a wider government commitment." However, ministers cited concerns that revenue reduction might lead firms to increase parking charges.

Another option, reducing the cap to £80 while maintaining the current 40% discount, was projected to save drivers around £1.1 billion. The assessment stated that "motorists would benefit from lower charges" under this scenario.

Tory shadow transport minister Greg Smith criticized the overhaul, stating, "Labour must think we’re fools." He added, "The war on the motorist is real and Labour is driving it."

Howard Cox, founder of the FairFuelUK group, expressed disappointment, saying, "Labour has bottled it." He argued that ministers missed an opportunity to save motorists billions, curb excessive penalties, and establish an independent appeals system, instead choosing to "side with the parking industry and abandoned drivers."

New Regulations and Criticisms

The new Private Parking Code of Practice introduces some measures intended to protect drivers. Firms will be banned from automatically charging motorists for entering a car park without paying and must provide at least ten minutes grace for drivers to leave after their parking session expires. Fines for minor mistakes, such as incorrect number plate entry, will be capped at £20. Operators will also be prohibited from issuing fines if a payment machine is out of order.

However, key demands from motoring groups were not fully met. The Code of Practice does not include a ban on debt collection fees being added to parking charge notices, nor does it establish a single independent appeals body to replace the two currently funded by the private firms themselves. A consultation on these issues is planned for next year.

Simon Williams, head of policy at the RAC, commented, "We've long called for the banning of debt recovery fees being added on top of parking charge notices and a single independent appeals body to replace the two industry-run ones, but neither have been included, which is disappointing."

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at the AA, stated, "Ultimately, we need to stop charges being issued in the first place, especially where the driver has done nothing wrong."

The number of private car parks has significantly increased, from approximately 10,000 in 2012 to nearly 50,000 today. Concurrently, the number of private parking fines issued has risen to almost 14.4 million annually, a 148% increase since 2019.