Parking losses during coronavirus pandemic revealed

By Fiona Callingham, Local Democracy Reporting Service

More than £4.2m was lost in parking fines and charges to local councils in south east Hampshire during the first lockdown.

According to figures collected from authorities, councils made £4,212,287 less between April and June this year than predicted or compared to the same time in 2019.

The losses were due to a combination of factors including the closure of some roads and car parks, the reduction of enforcement and making parking temporarily free.

In the area Portsmouth City Council was hardest hit – making £393,717 less in penalty charge notices (or parking fines) compared to last year as well as a staggering £2,077,000 less in parking charges than predicted before the pandemic.

But a council spokeswoman said ‘most of the loss’ had been reimbursed by the government as part of Covid compensation.

She said: ‘The reduction in penalty charges was due to the reduced enforcement during lockdown, to create more flexible parking during a time where there was a reduction in vehicle movement.

‘However, during this time we continued to enforce dangerous parking on double yellow lines and disabled bays.’

In Gosport a majority of the losses could be attributed to the closure of six car parks between March and May.

Overall the council took in £16,371 less in fines and £182,000 – which included £12,000 in parking permits – less in charges.

A council spokesman said: ‘Also, the fact that so many more people were not going to work meant a lot chose to cancel their permits.’

Havant Borough Council lost £467,816 in parking charges in that time compared to what it had budgeted for, and took in £68,241 less in fines.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government granted Havant £391,763 to cover the loss of this income.

A council spokesman said: ‘This grant covers the first four months of the financial year, including July, and included income lost from parking fees as well as other services affected by the pandemic.’

In Fareham £10,268 in fines and £425,000 in charges were lost.

And East Hampshire District Council lost £44,874 in fines and £527,000 in charges.

It comes as Portsmouth and Gosport councils are providing some free parking during the festive season.