UK's PARKING FINE HOTSPOTS REVEALED: Manchester leads the charge

Recent analysis conducted by Claims.co.uk has spotlighted the UK regions most burdened by parking fines, with Manchester emerging as the undisputed leader in penalty charge notices (PCNs).

The study meticulously examined PCN data spanning from 2020 to 2021, shedding light on the areas most frequently penalized for motoring infractions and the success rates of appeals against these fines.

Manchester's staggering tally of 99,348 PCNs per 100,000 people starkly outpaces the national average, marking an increase of 901.33% compared to the average rate of 9,922 notices per 100,000 people across the UK. In total, Manchester authorities issued 546,270 fines, nearly one for every resident based on the city's population of 549,853. Despite the high number of fines, only a fraction—660—were contested, with 478 appeals succeeding.

Brighton and Hove claimed the second spot, with fines issued at a rate of 98,583 per 100,000 people, 893.62% above the national average. The coastal city issued 286,280 PCNs, yet saw only 878 appeals, of which 631 were successful.

Reading secured the third position with 76,593 PCNs per 100,000 people, surpassing the national average by 671.98%. The Reading Borough Council processed 132,636 fines during the study period against its population of 173,170.

Cambridgeshire followed in fourth place, with a PCN rate of 67,935 per 100,000 people, which is 584.71% higher than the national average. The county saw 98,311 fines issued.

Nottingham rounds out the top five with a rate of 58,723 PCNs per 100,000 people, totalling 187,660 fines, with only 308 successfully appealed.

Other notable mentions include Bristol, Cardiff, Slough, Portsmouth, and Derby, each recording significant numbers of PCNs issued per 100,000 people, underscoring the widespread nature of parking enforcement across the UK.

Despite the daunting numbers, some regions showed a high success rate in appeals. Carmarthenshire, Wales, led with a 93.75% success rate, followed closely by Bath and North East Somerset at 87.64%.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Hyndburn, Lancashire, emerged as the least likely place to receive a PCN, with a mere 46 fines issued, equating to 56 fines per 100,000 people, showcasing the vast disparities in parking enforcement across the UK.

This comprehensive study highlights the pressing need for motorists to be vigilant of parking regulations and the potential for successful appeals, with certain areas showing leniency in the adjudication of contested fines.

A spokesperson for Claims.co.uk commented on the findings: “The findings from the study on Penalty Charge Notices in the UK reveal a diverse picture across regions. There are notable differences in the frequency of these notices, with some areas demonstrating higher incidence than others.

“Moreover, the data suggests a noteworthy trend where more rural locations tend to register comparatively lower numbers, potentially due to the lack of need for parking enforcement infrastructure.”