South Ayrshire parking fines increase to £100
Days after free on-street parking was introduced in Ayr Town Centre, councillors have agreed to increase parking fines in the area.
Last updated 30th Aug 2023
Councillors have agreed to increase parking fines to £100 after roads boss Kevin Braidwood admitted road maintenance would suffer without the rise.
It is the first rise in Penalty Notice Charges (PCNs) since 2001, when it was set at £60.
South Ayrshire Council’s Cabinet agreed to the increase, with councillors pointing out that they had to bring in revenue to maintain car parks and pay machines as well as the introduction of two hours free parking.
Councillor Bob Pollock said: “I support the reasons outlined increase to £100.
“It effectively means that if you pay that within 14 days it is £50 you would be paying.
“One of the ways that the parking strategy needs to work is by people moving once they have had their two free hours or by paying a parking fee.
“I would fully expect this would encourage people to pay that parking fee.
“The money is not a cash cow for council, it goes directly back into services, maintaining car parks and machines etc.”
Mr Braidwood, head of Ayrshire Roads Alliances, confirmed that the money is an important income stream for the roads budget.
He said: All the income generated from parking goes back into pothole repairs, car park repairs etc.
“If we don’t increase the charge and maintain it at level it is at, we will have to make a reduction in services we provide as the revenue isn’t there.”
Motorists receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) when they contravene parking regulations, this is usually related to double yellow lines, school keep clear markings, disabled and loading bays.
The rise will come into effect in October.
The current PCN charge is £60. If the fine is paid early that is reduced to £30 and goes up to £90 if it remains unpaid.
The report provided two other options. The first is for a basic penalty charge of £80, an early payment discount of £40 and a higher rate of £120.
The option agreed by the cabinet is for a higher increase to £100, a reduced rate of £50 and a late payment rate of £150.
The council says that, adjusted for inflation, the penalty charge notice would have risen to £105.
The report continues: “An increase in the cost of a PCN will support behaviour change and improvement in parking compliance in the important areas.
“Of the other Scottish local authorities who have already increased the PCN rates, the higher rate increase has been the approved option.
“All other roads authorities which are in the process of presenting recommendations to their respective administrations, such as South Lanarkshire and Argyll and Bute, are also seeking approval to adopt the higher rate increase.”
Officials estimate that the fine income could increase by 25 percent or £70,000.
The report indicates that this estimate takes into account the potential reduction in the number of fines handed out with the increased fine acting as a deterrent.