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Welsh council parking profits rise for third year

Local authorities in Wales made a ‘profit’ of £13.8m on their parking activities in the last financial year, new research finds.

Woman paying at parking meter

19 of the 22 councils in Wales showed profits from parking activities in 2015/16

According to the data from the RAC Foundation, this is the third year running that Welsh council parking profits have risen.

The data analysed by the RAC Foundation comes from the official returns made in a standardised format to the Welsh Government on an annual basis.

The biggest surplus after allowing for expenditure was made by Cardiff (£3.5m), followed by Swansea (£2.4m) and then Gwynedd (£1.4m).

Three councils reported losses on their parking activities: Flintshire (£423,000), Blaenau Gwent (£310,000) and Torfaen (£81,000).

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “Overall council parking profits in Wales are up sharply again this year, possibly reflecting a recovering economy with people using their cars more.

“It is important that the surplus is ploughed back into transport projects – there are plenty on Welsh motorists’ wish-lists, not least the ongoing campaign to tackle potholes.

“Some cash could also go towards providing and maintaining off-street car parks, so that they are seen by drivers as a safe and convenient alternative to finding space at the kerbside.

“While we don’t want our towns and cities dominated by the car, we must remember how dependent many people still are on them. In several areas of Wales – including Blaenau Gwent, Neath Port Talbot and Torfaen – more than 80% of those in employment rely on the car to get to work, some of the highest proportions in Britain.”

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Natalie Middleton

Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for over 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day.