Somerset Council has seen the income it generates from parking fines double over the past five years. Known as penalty charge notices (PCNs), these fines are issued to motorists for various parking violations, ranging from overstaying in pay-and-display bays to parking on double yellow lines.
A recent Freedom of Information request revealed that income from PCNs rose from nearly £780,000 in the 2020/21 financial year to over £1.5 million by 2025/26. Despite this sharp increase, the council states that the extra revenue is directed strictly towards maintaining parking services, and they do not anticipate further significant growth in these earnings.
PCNs in Somerset usually cost £50 for minor offences—such as failing to pay or overstaying—and £70 for more serious infringements, like using bus gates illegally or parking on single or double yellow lines. Paying the fine within 14 days allows motorists to receive a 50% discount, reducing the fines to £25 or £35 respectively.
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During the 2020/21 period, amid the coronavirus pandemic, Somerset Council issued 28,913 parking fines, collecting approximately £777,564. This number climbed steadily over subsequent years—reaching 65,487 fines issued in 2024/25 alone, with revenue surpassing £1.65 million. Although the number of fines dipped slightly in 2023/24 and 2025/26, income remained substantial.
The Crescent car park in Taunton, located opposite the council’s headquarters, was the hotspot for fines in 2025/26, recording 1,368 offences. Common infractions included parking without clearly displaying a ticket, overstaying paid time, and illegally parking petrol or diesel cars in newly installed electric vehicle charging spaces. This car park underwent a £1 million upgrade in early 2023 to improve its facilities.
Somerset Council clarified that parking fine revenue is legally bound to be reinvested in parking-related services, road improvements, and public transport, in line with the Traffic Management Act 2004 and the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. The funds cannot be diverted to other council services such as adult or children’s social care.
A council spokesperson explained, “Any surplus from parking penalties and charges covers the costs of running parking services and meeting related obligations. Remaining surplus funds are allocated to public transport, road and highway improvements, parking provision, and local environmental projects.”
While the council could not confirm if enforcement spending has increased since 2021 after adjusting for inflation, it emphasized that no rise in penalty charge revenues is factored into its medium-term budget plan. The council does not expect the volume of PCNs to increase significantly in the coming years.