Somerset Council has disclosed the car parks across the county where drivers face the highest risk of receiving parking fines. Known officially as penalty charge notices (PCNs), these fines are issued for various parking infringements, from overstaying the time limit in pay-and-display areas to illegally parking on double yellow lines.
A recent Freedom of Information request revealed that income from PCNs in Somerset has more than doubled—from nearly £780,000 in 2020/21 to over £1.5 million in 2025/26. This sharp increase highlights how enforcement efforts have intensified in recent years.
The council emphasizes that all revenue generated from parking fines is reinvested into maintaining parking services and related infrastructure. Officers do not anticipate a significant rise in fine income moving forward, ensuring a balanced approach to parking management.
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Typically, PCNs in Somerset cost £50 for minor violations such as failing to pay or overstaying, and £70 for more serious offenses like driving through bus gates or parking on restricted yellow lines. However, motorists can reduce their fines by half if they settle them within 14 days—cutting costs to £25 and £35 respectively.
Here are the top ten Somerset car parks that issued the most fines in 2025/26:
Somerset Council reiterated that funds raised from parking penalties cannot be used for unrelated local government services like adult or children’s social care. Instead, any surplus is allocated to public transport improvements, road maintenance, parking provision, and environmental projects, as mandated by the Traffic Management Act 2004 and the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
A council spokesperson stated: “All revenue from parking penalties is dedicated to covering the costs of parking services and fulfilling parking-related responsibilities. Any surplus is restricted to supporting transport and infrastructure initiatives in line with legal requirements. We do not expect an increase in penalty charge notices, and no growth in fine income has been factored into our medium-term financial plans.”