The Somerset Council has identified the streets with the highest number of parking fines, revealing a sharp rise in revenue from these penalties in recent years.
Parking fines, officially known as penalty charge notices (PCNs), are issued for various infractions, including overstaying in pay-and-display zones and parking on double yellow lines. A recent Freedom of Information request disclosed that income from PCNs in Somerset has doubled—from nearly £780,000 in 2020/21 to over £1.5 million projected for 2025/26.
The council emphasizes that this income is reinvested in maintaining parking and related services, with no significant increases in PCN revenues expected in the near future.
READ MORE: Man Knocked Unconscious and Assaulted in Highbridge
READ MORE: Somerset Tories and Lib Dems Clash Over Council’s ‘One-Star’ Financial Rating
Standard PCN charges in Somerset are £50 for minor offences such as overstaying time limits or failing to pay for parking, and £70 for more serious breaches like driving through bus gates or parking on yellow lines. Motorists can reduce their fines by 50% if paid within 14 days, lowering the fees to £25 and £35 respectively.
A breakdown of the top ten streets generating the most parking fines in Somerset for 2025/26 shows a dominance of locations in Taunton, with entries also from Bridgwater and Minehead:
- A3027 East Street, Taunton (1,068 fines) – A busy shopping hub with stores like Primark and McDonald’s, where many tickets relate to unclear ticket displays and restricted parking zones.
- Albemarle Road, Taunton (808 fines) – A residential area featuring the Albemarle Centre, with offences mainly for parking in restricted or resident-only areas.
- A3027 Fore Street, Taunton (657 fines) – Central to Taunton’s shopping, fines often involve parking in restricted or loading areas and taxi ranks.
- A38 East Reach, Taunton (623 fines) – A crucial link to the M5 motorway, known for many fines due to parking on single or double yellow lines.
- A3027 North Street, Taunton (566 fines) – Home to various shops and the independent quarter, with tickets typically for restricted parking and loading bays.
- St Mary Street, Bridgwater (559 fines) – Runs past a historic church and includes areas frequently misused for taxi ranks and loading zones.
- Hammet Street, Taunton (493 fines) – Connecting the shopping area to Taunton Minster, with many violations involving disabled bays, taxi spaces, and loading zones.
- Magdalene Street, Taunton (452 fines) – Links town centre to residential areas, with fines mostly for restricted parking and overstaying time limits.
- The Avenue, Minehead (449 fines) – The main shopping street with diverse violations from parking in taxi ranks to exceeding permitted times.
- South Street, Taunton (431 fines) – Connects Holway with Taunton town centre, with most offences relating to restricted parking areas.
According to Somerset Council, any surplus from parking fines must be allocated back to parking services or traffic-related improvements, not to general local authority services such as social care. This is governed by the Traffic Management Act 2004 and the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
A council spokesperson stated: “Any excess from parking penalties and charges is used to cover operational costs and support public transport, highway improvements, and environmental enhancements. We do not anticipate an increase in penalty charge notices, and no such increase is planned in our financial forecast.”