London parking fines set to rise to £160: Mayor Sadiq Khan signs off on proposals to increase PCNs by £30

  •  Band A areas (higher-level charges) would increase from £130 to £160 

By FREDA LEWIS-STEMPEL, MOTORING REPORTER

Updated:

London parking penalty charges are set to increase with motorists soon to be stung with eye-watering fines.

Under a new proposal signed off by Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, the cost of a penalty charge notice (PCN) is due to rise by £30.

Londoners and motorists visiting the capital are already having to stump up huge amounts to park, and staggering financial penalties if caught violating parking restrictions. But drivers are being warned it is set to get even worse.

Band A areas (higher-level charges) would increase from £130 to £160 under the new proposal, while Band B areas would go up from £110 to £140.

The change comes off the back off a request by London Councils - who represent the capital's local authorities collectively - to stop 'anti-social and obstructive parking' in the city. 

City Hall has confirmed that the 50 per cent discount will stay in place for PCNs paid within 14 days, that will still mean some drivers will have to stump up £80 minimum in they pay up within a fortnight of receiving a PCN.

Penalty charge notice costs are set to go up by £30 across all bands in London after London Councils put a proposal to the mayor to stop 'anti-social and obstructive parking'

Penalty charge notice costs are set to go up by £30 across all bands in London after London Councils put a proposal to the mayor to stop 'anti-social and obstructive parking'

The increase in parking and traffic enforcement penalty charges will also apply to bus lane and moving traffic penalties.

Penalties vary depending on location, but they also vary depending on the severity of the offence, with Band A reserved for the most offences such as obstructing roads, and Band B lower-level (£90) for outstaying parking restrictions.

Obstructive parking is said to be one of the key reason behind the proposed changes, after 50 per cent of respondents complained about 'dangerous and inconsiderate parking', such as pavement parking during proposal consultations.

City Hall said that 'PCNs are a vital way we keep London moving by deterring inconsiderate driving and protecting road space such as disabled bays'.

However, while pavement parking and obstructive parking is an issue to respondents, almost half of the 1,600 people who replied to the consultation didn't want PCNs to increase due to the financial burden. 

Sadiq Khan has signed off on the proposal to increase London PCN costs despite almost half of proposal respondents saying they don't want the cost to increase due to the financial burden

Sadiq Khan has signed off on the proposal to increase London PCN costs despite almost half of proposal respondents saying they don't want the cost to increase due to the financial burden

The mayor's office and London Councils have said that the cost of enforcement has increased with the result that PCNs have to go up

The mayor's office and London Councils have said that the cost of enforcement has increased with the result that PCNs have to go up

Revised PCN levels 

Band A: 

higher level, from £130 to £160

lower level, from £80 to £110

Band B:

higher level, from £110 to £140

lower level, from £60 to £90

Bus lane and moving traffic penalties

from £130 to £160

But City Hall and London Councils are also pointing to financial hardship as one of the main reasons why fines have to go up. 

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: 'The number of people receiving PCNs has increased by 50 per cent over the last 12 years' and that 'enforcement costs have risen, and boroughs are concerned the penalty charge regime isn't sufficiently recovering costs'. 

This echoes London Councils request in which it said that enforcement costs had 'increased significantly'.

While Sadiq Khan has signed off on the proposal, it will only go into force if the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, does not raise any objections within a month of receiving the proposed changes in writing.

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London, said: 'The Mayor considered evidence provided by London councils, acting on behalf all London boroughs, who believe the increase is needed to ensure adequate deterrence for noncompliance, given the considerable increase in PCNs.'

A map detailing what authorities are raising their parking fees and by how much also

Councils are increasing the cost of parking across England

A Mail audit recently found at least 20 councils plan to increase parking costs in their car parks and street bays by up to 294 per cent. 

Council leaders claim the rises are needed to balance the books but critics say businesses and households will be harmed. 

All 21 councils contacted by the Mail are run by Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party or have no overall control.

In London's Lewisham there are plans to introduce parking permits costing up to £750 and roll out new controlled parking zones.

In Barnet, the council will set a standard minimum price of £3.50 for one hour of parking, rising from the previous £3.12.

Cardiff council is proposing to increase the cost of residential parking permits from £30 to £35 for the first permit and from £80 to £120 for the second permit. 

Liverpool council leaders have claimed a 60 per cent increase in on-street car parking from next month will help it play 'catch up' with other cities, while drivers in Bristol will have to pay to park for the first time in ten suburban car parks.

Smaller councils such as Horsham, Runnymede, Norwich, East Herts, Melton and Guildford are all increasing fees too.

Horsham will increase prices by 294 per cent – an increase of at least £2.20 – at 12 car parks as the council seeks to raise £134,000.

The rest will increase by 10p an hour. 

This is Money has reached out to London Councils for comment. 

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