Somerset Council has disclosed which local car parks are most likely to result in parking fines. The council raises substantial revenue from parking penalties, formally known as penalty charge notices (PCNs), issued for various offenses such as overstaying in pay-and-display zones or parking illegally on double yellow lines.
A recent Freedom of Information request reveals that income from PCNs has doubled over the past few years, rising from nearly £780,000 in 2020/21 to over £1.5 million projected for 2025/26.
This revenue is reinvested strictly into maintaining parking services and related infrastructure. Council officials do not anticipate a significant rise in parking fine income going forward.
Typically, PCNs in Somerset are set at £50 for minor infractions, like time limit breaches or unpaid parking fees, and £70 for more serious violations, including driving through bus gates or parking on restricted lines. Early payment within 14 days results in a 50% reduction, lowering fines to £25 and £35 respectively.
The top ten car parks generating the most fines in 2025/26 highlight where motorists should be especially cautious.
The council emphasizes that funds raised from parking fines are legally constrained and cannot be funneled into unrelated areas such as adult or children’s social care. Instead, any surplus after covering parking service costs is dedicated to supports such as public transport, road and highway improvements, additional parking provision, and local environmental enhancements.
This approach complies with the Traffic Management Act 2004 and the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, which govern parking enforcement and expenditure.
A council spokesperson stated, “We do not expect penalty charge notice volumes to increase, and no additional revenue from PCNs has been factored into our medium-term financial plans.”