Kirklees Highways coffers boosted by £829k in parking fines

Nov 25 2009 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

MOTORISTS were slapped with more than £829,000 in parking fines in just 12 months in Kirklees.

Figures released today show that drivers were handed parking penalties worth £829,043 to the council in the 12 months to April 2009.

The figure was down on the previous 12 months by £70,912.

But councils have been accused of using motorists as ‘cash cows’ – despite research showing that the money raised in parking fines dropped 16% last year.

A spokeswoman for Kirklees Council said that the money is ploughed back into the authority’s Highways budget.

The most recent figure is high when compared to neighbouring Calderdale, although the daytime population of Calderdale has 123,503 fewer visitors than Kirklees.

The figures, released today by the Taxpayer’s Alliance, shows that in 2007/08 Kirklees Highways coffers were boosted by £899,955.

With a daytime population of 255,465 – those living and working in the borough – that’s an average of £3.25 per person. In 2008/09 they received £829,043 in parking penalties.